Nicholas Pooran’s heroics propel West Indies domination

Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran‘s explosive batting propelled West Indies to a dominant victory over Afghanistan in their final group stage match of the T20 World Cup 2024, maintaining a perfect record heading into the Super Eight stage. Pooran’s remarkable innings of 98 off just 53 balls set the tone early, as he took apart Azmatullah Omarzai with a record-breaking 36 runs in a single over during the powerplay. This onslaught proved insurmountable for Afghanistan, who struggled to contain West Indies’ aggressive batting display.

West Indies amassed their highest-ever total in men’s T20 World Cups, finishing at 218 for 5, largely due to Pooran’s eight sixes, which also saw him surpass Chris Gayle as their leading six-hitter in T20Is. The result, while impressive, had little impact on the predetermined Super Eight seedings, as both teams had already secured their spots. Afghanistan, in response, faltered and were bundled out for 114, with West Indies’ bowlers sharing the spoils evenly.

Johnson Charles contributed significantly to the batting effort, overcoming a hesitant start to support Pooran with a flurry of boundaries. His partnership with Pooran ensured West Indies maintained momentum throughout the innings, leaving Afghanistan with a daunting chase.

The match showcased Pooran’s prowess on a lively Gros Islet pitch, where he capitalized on Afghanistan’s bowling vulnerabilities. Rashid Khan, usually a key figure in Afghanistan’s attack, struggled to contain Pooran and was particularly punished during the latter stages of the innings. Despite efforts to apply pressure through spin variations, Afghanistan found little success as Pooran continued to dominate, exploiting the longer boundary on the leg side to great effect.

Afghanistan’s batting, already under pressure, crumbled under the weight of West Indies’ total. Early wickets, including that of opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, exposed their fragile middle order, which had struggled throughout the tournament. Ibrahim Zadran briefly resisted, but West Indies’ bowlers, led by Akeal Hosein and debutant Obed McCoy, maintained control. McCoy made an immediate impact, dismissing key batsmen to derail Afghanistan’s chase early on.

Ultimately, West Indies secured a commanding victory, their second-largest in T20 World Cups by runs, affirming their form and confidence as they advance to the Super Eight stage undefeated. The emphatic win underscored their status as contenders in the tournament, leaving a strong statement of intent as they eye further success in the competition.

Scorecard: West Indies 218 for 5 (Pooran 98, Charles 43, Naib 2-14) beat Afghanistan 114 (Ibrahim 38, McCoy 3-14) by 104 runs