West Indies thrashed Afghanistan in their final Group C match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, winning by a massive 104 runs. The match was played at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, on June 18, 2024.
West Indies batted first and scored 218 for 5 in their 20 overs, with Nicholas Pooran contributing 114 runs. Afghanistan, in response, was bowled out for 114 in 16.2 overs, with Rashid Khan top-scoring with 18 runs.
Rashid Khan the Afghanistan captain acknowledged that West Indies batted well in the Powerplay and that it was difficult to come back after conceding 90 runs in the first six overs. He also appreciated the strong breeze, which made it challenging for the bowlers to maintain a consistent pace.
Rovman Powell, the West Indies captain, praised his team’s performance, saying that their hard work over the past year was paying off. He also thanked his head coach, Darren Sammy, for his support and guidance throughout the tournament.
The win marked West Indies’ eighth consecutive victory in the T20 format, the longest winning streak in T20ls for the Men In Maroon. They finished the group stage unbeaten and will move on to the Super-8 stages, where they will face South Africa, England, and the USA.
Afghanistan’s batting collapse significantly impacted the Game, leading to a massive 104-run defeat against West Indies in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Here are some points:
- Poor Start: Afghanistan lost their opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, for a duck in the first over, which set the tone for their batting collapse.
- Middle-Order Woes: Except for Azmatullah Omarzai, no other Afghan batsman could make a significant impact. This led to a huge collapse in the middle overs, which has been a recurring issue for Afghanistan in recent times.
- No Recovery: Despite some late boundaries from Rashid Khan, Afghanistan was unable to mount a recovery. They were bowled out for 114 in 16.2 overs, which was never going to be enough to chase down West Indies total of 218 for 5.
- West Indies Dominance: The West Indies bowlers, particularly Andre Russell, kept picking up wickets at regular intervals, ensuring that Afghanistan never got close to the target. This dominance from the West Indies sealed the match in their favor.
Batting Collapse of Afghanistan
- Missed Chances: In the match against Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Afghanistan’s coach Jonatha n Trott mentioned that missed chances, particularly a dropped catch of Glenn Maxwell on 33, allowed him to capitalize and score s double-century, leading to a three-wicket loss.
- Middle-Order Woes: In several matches, Afghanistan’s middle order has struggled to stabilize the innings, leading to a collapse. This has been a recurring issue for the team, making it difficult to recover from early setbacks.
- Inexperienced Team: Afghanistan’s team is relatively young and inexperienced, which can lead to mental lapses and a lack of composure under pressure. This inexperience can contribute to a batting collapse, as seen in their matches against India and Australia.
- Poor Shot Selection: Afghanista’s batsmen have sometimes been guilty of poor shot selection, which can result in quick wickets and a collapse. This has been a factor in their losses against India and Australia.
- Inability to Adapt: Afghanistan’s batsmen have struggled to adapt to different bowling conditions and strategies, which can lead to a collapse. For example, they were unable to counter Glenn Maxwell’s aggressive batting in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.