Leeds: Clinical West Indies have defeated Afghanistan by 23 runs in their last match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 here at Headingley. This was West Indies's 2nd win of the tournament while minnows Afghanistan could not manage to win even a single game in this edition.
While chasing challenging total of 312 Afghanistan didn't have the best of the start as their skipper Gulbadin Naib was sent back to the pavilion on the mere score of 5. After the wicket opener, Rahmat Shah and middle-order batsman Ikram Ali Khil steaded Afghan's innings. The duo added 132 runs partnership and at one point everyone was smelling the upset.
But, in came the self-proclaimed Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, with his handy off-spin he has taken many wickets and this time as well he provided the important breakthrough of Shah in the 27th over of the match.
Najibullah Zadran also added 31 runs and tried taking his side near the first victory in this edition of World Cup but he got run out in the 36th over and after that Afghanistan kept losing wickets at regular interval.
Lower order batsman Sayed Shirzad and Asghar Afghan tried their level best but fell short by 23 runs in the end.
West Indian pacer Kemar Roach and allrounder Carlos Brathwaite ripped the Afghan batting apart by taking three and four wickets respectively. Oshane Thomas and Gayle also chipped in with one wicket each.
Earlier, a fine display of batting by Shai Hope Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran helped the Caribbean side reach pass 300. all three scored fifty runs each while Shimron Hetmyer and skipper Jason Holder chipped in with quickfire runs.
West Indies batter Shai Hope was named Player of the match. He said, "It's important we got that score on the board. It's not where we would've liked it to be but it's a learning experience and lot to learn from this. It's nice to finish on a high and hopefully, I can carry on this form for the next series as well."
With this match, the world cup campaign of both the teams come to an end. West Indies are sitting at the 9th spot while Afghanistan with zero wins remains at the last spot.
