Afghanistan Vs West Indies Highlights, 1st T20I: Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli Star As AFG Beat WI By 38 Runs

Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Gulbadin Naib, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Ishaq, Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai

West Indies: Evin Lewis, Alick Athanaze, Brandon King (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles (wk), Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Quentin Sampson, Gudakesh Motie, Amir Jangoo, Matthew Forde, Jayden Seales, Shamar Springer, Khary Pierre, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Joseph

Afghanistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against West Indies. Playing XIs coming up next.

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi

West Indies: Brandon King (c), Evin Lewis, Johnson Charles (wk), Amir Jangoo, Shimron Hetmyer, Quentin Sampson, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales

The first ball will be bowled at 8pm IST. The Afghanistan vs West Indies, 1st T20I will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are in the middle. Gurbaz is on strike as Jayden Seales begins the bowling spell.

Jayden Seales struck early as Gurbaz was run out off the very first ball after pushing a full outswinger into the on-side and setting off for a risky single, with Motie hitting direct from short mid-on to catch him well short.

Jayden Seales delivered a crucial breakthrough for West Indies by removing Sediqullah Atal for 2 off 4 balls, as the left-hander chased a good-length delivery outside off and edged it thickly to first slip, where Brandon King held on to a sharp overhead catch, reducing Afghanistan to 25 for 2 in the third over.

Afghanistan finished the powerplay strongly as Ibrahim Zadran led the charge with two crisp boundaries early in the sixth over, taking advantage of width to keep the scoreboard moving. Darwish Rasooli rotated the strike with a single, while a couple of wides further boosted the total, before the over ended with a quiet delivery and a single. The 12-run over pushed Afghanistan to 51 for 2, with Zadran on 32 and Rasooli on 15, giving the visitors a solid base after the initial setback.

Afghanistan continued to build steadily in the 10th over, collecting nine runs through a boundary from Darwish Rasooli and a series of well-placed singles. Rasooli moved to 34 off 25 with a controlled stroke, while Ibrahim Zadran kept rotating the strike to reach 42 from 30 balls, taking Afghanistan to 81 for 2 and maintaining a healthy run rate without any major risks.

Ibrahim Zadran brought up his fourth successive T20I fifty with a simple push to long-on, as Afghanistan added seven steady runs from the over. Zadran and Darwish Rasooli kept rotating the strike against Motie, taking the score to 104 for 2 without taking any risks.

Afghanistan stepped up the tempo in the 15th over, collecting 17 runs as Darwish Rasooli led the charge with a clean six and a boundary, while Ibrahim Zadran also found the fence to keep the momentum going. A wide added to the tally, and the pair rotated strike smartly to take Afghanistan to 128 for 2, with Rasooli on 67 and Zadran on 55, firmly in control heading into the death overs.

Afghanistan kept the momentum going in the 17th over, adding 10 runs as Darwish Rasooli opened with a boundary before both batters rotated the strike smartly. A couple of wides also helped the cause, while Ibrahim Zadran and Rasooli avoided risks to take Afghanistan to 147 for 2, with Rasooli on 73 and Zadran on 66 heading into the final three overs.

Afghanistan continued their steady push in the 19th over, collecting 10 runs through a boundary from Ibrahim Zadran and a couple of well-run twos. Darwish Rasooli kept the strike moving with singles, while a wide also added to the total, as Afghanistan moved to 165 for 2 with both set batters in full control.

Afghanistan finished with a strong 181 for 3, thanks largely to a superb 162-run partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli, who controlled the innings from the middle overs right till the end. The final over brought two sixes before Rasooli finally fell for a fine 84 off 59, caught by Hetmyer at deep midwicket off a slower ball from Forde. Zadran remained unbeaten on 87, ensuring Afghanistan posted a challenging total built on patience, placement, and late acceleration.

Innings Break.

Brandon King and Lewis walk out to begin the chase, with King taking strike. Mujeeb has the new ball in hand, and we’re all set to get the pursuit underway.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck early by bowling Brandon King for 4 with a drifting full delivery that cut back in sharply, leaving West Indies at 5 for 1 after the opening over.

West Indies picked up momentum in the third over with a six from Johnson Charles and a couple of extras, adding 10 runs to move to 20 for 1. Evin Lewis and Charles rotated the strike carefully while keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Ziaur Rahman Sharifi bounced back in the fifth over after an expensive start by removing Evin Lewis, who top-edged a pull to Darwish Rasooli at deep square leg for 4. Despite the wicket, West Indies collected 16 runs from the over through big hits from Johnson Charles, moving to 38 for 2 with Amir Jangoo joining him at the crease.

Afghanistan tightened their grip in the powerplay as Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up a big wicket, trapping Johnson Charles lbw for 27 with a quicker, fuller delivery after a successful review. Shimron Hetmyer then joined Amir Jangoo and the pair rotated strike with a few singles, but West Indies could only manage seven runs from the over.

Rashid Khan made an immediate impact by removing Shimron Hetmyer, who miscued a slog-sweep off the googly and was caught by Darwish Rasooli at fine leg for 3. Quentin Sampson then survived the final delivery as West Indies could manage only two runs from the over, slipping to 47 for 4 after seven overs.

Rashid Khan tightened the stranglehold on West Indies with another brilliant over, trapping Amir Jangoo lbw for 3 as the batter missed a lap sweep and was struck in front. Matthew Forde then survived two deliveries, but West Indies managed just one run from the over and slipped further to 50 for 5, with Rashid finishing with figures of 2 for 3 after two overs.

West Indies continued to struggle for momentum in the 12th over, managing just two runs as Quentin Sampson and Matthew Forde were kept quiet by tight bowling. The dot balls built pressure, leaving WI on 68 for 5 with little room to recover.

Ziaur Rahman Sharifi picked up another important wicket as Quentin Sampson edged behind to Gurbaz for 30, ending a useful debut knock. Matthew Forde then kept West Indies ticking with a clever scoop for four to bring up 100, while Gudakesh Motie and Forde rotated strike to add nine from the over, taking Windies to 102 for 6.

Noor Ahmad turned the 18th over into a decisive one by picking up two wickets, first removing Matthew Forde, who miscued a pull to Darwish Rasooli in the deep, and then bowling Gudakesh Motie with a sharp-turning googly to end his entertaining 28 off 15. Despite Motie’s two sixes earlier in the over, West Indies lost momentum again and slipped to 133 for 8, with Afghanistan firmly in control.

Ziaur Rahman Sharifi capped off a fine spell with his third wicket, trapping Khary Pierre lbw to seal the contest before closing out the match with a tight final over. West Indies could manage only four runs from the last six balls and finished on 143 for 9, as Afghanistan completed a comprehensive and well-controlled victory.

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