The 40th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 took place between West Indies vs Afghanistan at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet in St Lucia on Jun 17, 08:30 PM local. West Indies registered a convincing 104-run win. Nicholas Pooran smashed 98 and the bowlers did an excellent job of bundling the opponent out for 114 and sealed the deal.

Put into bat first, the West Indies had a flying start as their openers Brandon King and J Charles started taking on the bowlers since the beginning and added 22 runs within 2 overs before the King got out. However, Nicholas Poorancame in the middle and they started to build the partnership.

Nicholas Pooran steals the show with the bat

They played shots in every corner with ease and reached the 100-run mark within 8 overs as well. Afghanistan bowlers struggled in the middle as they were unable to restrict the batters. However, they added 80 runs before Charles got out after smashing 43 runs off 27 with 8 fours as well. After his dismissal, Shai Hope joined Pooran and they added another 33 runs. Later, Rovman Powell also scored 26 but it was Pooran who stole the show.

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He smashed a swashbuckling 98 off 53 with 6 fours and 8 sixes as well before getting ran out in the final over. Their onslaught helped West Indies post a record total of 218 for 5. However, West Indies’ 218/5 is the second-highest innings total against Afghanistan in T20Is. Also, Nicholas Pooran managed to break a few records with his knock as well. He became the sixth batter with 500-plus sixes in Men’s T20 cricket.

While chasing, in form Rahmanullah Gurbaz got out for a duck. Gulbadin Naib also got out for 7 only. However, Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai steadied the ship but it didn’t last long as West Indies bowlers kept the pressure on.

West Indies registered a record win

Middle-order failed to contribute whereas Rashid Khan scored 18 runs only. Obed McCoy picked up 3 wickets for 16 whereas Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein claimed 2 wickets each and bowled them out for 114 in 16.2 overs as well. However, this was their second biggest victory margin for WI in T20Is as well as the second biggest defeat margin for Afghanistan in T20Is as well. Meanwhile, this was the longest winning streak for WI in T20 World Cups as well as in T20s.

Player of the Match

Nicholas Pooran said: “You don’t want to be on 97 and get run-out but it was all about reaching a respectable total. I assessed the conditions early on, we had a good start in the powerplay, I had to take the responsibility in the middle overs with the Afghanistan spinners bowling. I just felt that it’s my night and I could get on with it. It’s difficult to strike the ball when it’s a little slow and spinning, but when you get a good wicket like this, you got to capitalise, got to appreciate the conditions. It’s just not today, it started 12-14 months ago we have been consistent as a team, we went to No. 3 in the rankings. In the last game, Rutherford took the opportunity and played wonderfully, he inspired us.”