114/10 (16.2)
CR : 6.98
218/5 (20.0)
CR : 10.90
West Indies won by 104 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Nicholas Pooran
98(53)
Nicholas Pooran (POTM): "First of all, thanks to the almighty. You don't want to be at 97 and then get run-out. But at the end of it all, you need to take your team to a good total.
Obviously, to assess the conditions and take advantage of the powerplay. I had to see the conditions early and take responsibility. I felt like it was my day. When it is your day, you need to make it big. I just felt that it was 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 I’m happy to get a good wicket; got to appreciate the conditions.
In the T20s and in the West Indies, everyone wants to see fours and sixes. It's difficult to get that done in every game. You can't do that every time, but when conditions allow, you should capitalise.
It is not about this game or tournament. But we wanted to be consistent as a team from 12-14 months ago. We have been a consistent team. We went to No. 3 in the rankings. In the last game, Rutherford took the opportunity and played wonderfully; he inspired us."
Obviously, to assess the conditions and take advantage of the powerplay. I had to see the conditions early and take responsibility. I felt like it was my day. When it is your day, you need to make it big. I just felt that it was 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 I’m happy to get a good wicket; got to appreciate the conditions.
In the T20s and in the West Indies, everyone wants to see fours and sixes. It's difficult to get that done in every game. You can't do that every time, but when conditions allow, you should capitalise.
It is not about this game or tournament. But we wanted to be consistent as a team from 12-14 months ago. We have been a consistent team. We went to No. 3 in the rankings. In the last game, Rutherford took the opportunity and played wonderfully; he inspired us."
Biggest win margins for West Indies in T20Is:
134 runs vs Uganda, Guyana, 2024
104 runs vs Afghanistan, Gros Islet, TONIGHT*
84 runs vs Pakistan, Mirpur, 2014
134 runs vs Uganda, Guyana, 2024
104 runs vs Afghanistan, Gros Islet, TONIGHT*
84 runs vs Pakistan, Mirpur, 2014
Biggest margins of defeats for Afghanistan in T20Is:
116 runs vs England, Colombo, 2012
104 runs vs West Indies, Gros Islet, TONIGHT*
101 runs vs India, Dubai, 2021
116 runs vs England, Colombo, 2012
104 runs vs West Indies, Gros Islet, TONIGHT*
101 runs vs India, Dubai, 2021
8 wins* - This is the longest winning streak for West Indies in the shortest format. Their previous best was 7 wins between 2012 and 2013.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan Captain): "I think the way they started with the bat, especially in the powerplay when they scored over 90 runs, was impressive. In T20 cricket, it's challenging to come back from such a strong start. However, our bowling in the middle overs was excellent. To restrict them to under 220 runs was a commendable effort by the boys. It's crucial how we execute our plans during the powerplay.
You know what the plan is, and it's good that it happened at this stage of the tournament. It helps us understand what to expect in the upcoming games and how to adjust our mindset and strategy accordingly. We'll keep learning from this experience to avoid repeating it.
I think the strong breeze was a factor as well. As a bowler, you need to consider which side to bowl to and leverage your strengths to keep your overs under ten runs. It's important to keep that in mind. On different pitches, we bowl differently and have many options. But on this wicket, I feel like there aren't many places to hide. You need to be very clear in your mind and can't afford to bowl inconsistently. We'll be punished for it. However, I think that's something we've learned from this game. It will be good for us if we keep it simple, identify what's my strengths and how I can restrict the batters on this wicket. We've learned from this experience. If we encounter a similar wicket again, I feel confident the boys will perform even better.
I feel morale is very high, and we've achieved what we wanted, which was to reach the Super Eight. Now, the next stage is how we're going to perform on those tracks. It will present a different challenge for us as a team, and we'll need to adjust accordingly and play as a cohesive unit.
So, it's a great learning experience for us. It's better that it happened at this stage rather than in a do-or-die game where the disappointment would be greater. We can learn from this. We also take positives from this game. The fielding was exceptional, and especially in the middle overs, the way the guys, especially Noor, bowled on this pitch, is a very positive sign for us heading into the next phase of the Super Eight."
You know what the plan is, and it's good that it happened at this stage of the tournament. It helps us understand what to expect in the upcoming games and how to adjust our mindset and strategy accordingly. We'll keep learning from this experience to avoid repeating it.
I think the strong breeze was a factor as well. As a bowler, you need to consider which side to bowl to and leverage your strengths to keep your overs under ten runs. It's important to keep that in mind. On different pitches, we bowl differently and have many options. But on this wicket, I feel like there aren't many places to hide. You need to be very clear in your mind and can't afford to bowl inconsistently. We'll be punished for it. However, I think that's something we've learned from this game. It will be good for us if we keep it simple, identify what's my strengths and how I can restrict the batters on this wicket. We've learned from this experience. If we encounter a similar wicket again, I feel confident the boys will perform even better.
I feel morale is very high, and we've achieved what we wanted, which was to reach the Super Eight. Now, the next stage is how we're going to perform on those tracks. It will present a different challenge for us as a team, and we'll need to adjust accordingly and play as a cohesive unit.
So, it's a great learning experience for us. It's better that it happened at this stage rather than in a do-or-die game where the disappointment would be greater. We can learn from this. We also take positives from this game. The fielding was exceptional, and especially in the middle overs, the way the guys, especially Noor, bowled on this pitch, is a very positive sign for us heading into the next phase of the Super Eight."
Rovman Powell (West Indies Captain): "Yeah, it feels very good. The hard work we have been putting in for the last 12-14 months is paying off.
The guys are always excited to come here. It is one of the best batting tracks in the tournament. The guys know that and they love to come here. Coming from Guyana and Trinidad, everyone was feeling great because of this wicket being one of the best batting tracks. They wanted to come here and get the runs.
Nicholas Pooran has worked really hard and it is paying off. He has done well in the last 12-14 months. He has set a solid foundation for us tonight. He was batting well not only in franchise cricket but for West Indies in international cricket as well.
It is a good headache to have (selection of bowlers). When he was bowling, I told him that we now have a headache. We started the tournament with a little advantage as we were playing at home and knew the conditions. We are playing in the West Indies, and it is our responsibility to make full use of home conditions.
When I started my journey as a captain, we were ranked 8/9, and now we are 3rd in the world. The support from the fans wherever we have gone has been incredible. When you do well, the fans start believing. Guyana was lovely, Trinidad was a packed house, and to see the support St Lucia has given is amazing.
I would like to thank Daren Sammy (Head Coach). I extend my thanks to him and our management. I have started as a young captain, but they have given me what I want. Sammy has been a driving force in my journey as a leader."
The guys are always excited to come here. It is one of the best batting tracks in the tournament. The guys know that and they love to come here. Coming from Guyana and Trinidad, everyone was feeling great because of this wicket being one of the best batting tracks. They wanted to come here and get the runs.
Nicholas Pooran has worked really hard and it is paying off. He has done well in the last 12-14 months. He has set a solid foundation for us tonight. He was batting well not only in franchise cricket but for West Indies in international cricket as well.
It is a good headache to have (selection of bowlers). When he was bowling, I told him that we now have a headache. We started the tournament with a little advantage as we were playing at home and knew the conditions. We are playing in the West Indies, and it is our responsibility to make full use of home conditions.
When I started my journey as a captain, we were ranked 8/9, and now we are 3rd in the world. The support from the fans wherever we have gone has been incredible. When you do well, the fans start believing. Guyana was lovely, Trinidad was a packed house, and to see the support St Lucia has given is amazing.
I would like to thank Daren Sammy (Head Coach). I extend my thanks to him and our management. I have started as a young captain, but they have given me what I want. Sammy has been a driving force in my journey as a leader."
It's time to conclude our coverage, folks! West Indies clinch a thumping victory and maintain an unbeaten record in the Group stage. We hope you enjoyed the carnage from Nicky P. 😊 It's goodbye for now. This is Deepak Prakash signing off, alongside co-commentator AkshayaKrishna Polya and scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal.