West Indies thrash Afghanistan in final T20 World Cup group game

Nicholas Pooran fell just short of achieving his first T20 World Cup century as the dominant West Indies crushed Afghanistan by a staggering 104 runs in a highly anticipated clash between two undefeated teams on Monday. Premier League Men's cricket at its finest.

Despite both teams already securing their spots in the Super Eights, Pooran's explosive knock of 98 off 53 balls propelled the hosts to a formidable total of 218-5.

Afghanistan struggled to recover after losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over and were eventually bowled out for just 114 runs in 16.2 overs. Seamer Obed McCoy, playing his first match of the tournament, claimed the best figures of 3-14. The Super Eights phase of the competition will commence on Wednesday.

Pooran, reflecting on his innings, emphasized the importance of capitalizing on good batting conditions and making the most of opportunities. He smashed six fours and eight sixes, surpassing 2,000 T20I runs in the process.

Pooran and Johnson Charles (43 off 27 balls) formed a destructive partnership, propelling the West Indies to 92-1 by the sixth over.

This Powerplay onslaught resulted in the highest total ever recorded in the Powerplay overs of a T20 World Cup. Seamer Azmatullah Omarzai's wayward bowling, including conceding 36 runs in a single over, exemplified the struggles faced by the Afghan bowlers.

However, it was Omarzai who ultimately ended Pooran's quest for a century with a direct hit in the final over, leaving the left-hander just short of his ground.

Despite the West Indies' dominance, Gulbadin Naib managed to provide some resistance, taking 2-14 off two overs. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan acknowledged the difficulty of recovering after conceding over 90 runs in the Powerplay.

The team put up a strong fight during the middle overs to keep the opposition below 220 runs.

It's beneficial that this occurred during this phase of the tournament as it provides clarity on the required mindset and strategy for similar situations.

West Indies captain Rovman Powell emphasized that their four consecutive victories in the group stage, extending their winning streak to eight matches, were not a matter of luck.

He highlighted the dedication and effort put in by the team over the past year, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high-quality cricket and continuous improvement.

Knowing that St. Lucia offers one of the best batting pitches in the competition, the team was eager to showcase their skills after playing in Guyana and Trinidad, especially the batsmen.