WI VS AFG - 40th Match, Group C, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

This was a dead-rubber but not for West Indies and their fans who thronged the stadium tonight to witness their team put up a dominating performance. The hosts have given a timely reminder to the other teams as to why they are considered a powerhouse in this format. Afghanistan blew teams away in their opening three games, bowling them out for below 100, but today they conceded the highest total in the tournament. But as Rashid said they now know how to bowl on such wickets and that is the positive they take away. That brings an end to the group stage. The Super 8s start from tomorrow with South Africa taking on the USA. Do join us for that. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Rovman Powell | West Indies captain: It feels good (to win 8 games in a row). It shows the hard work we have put in in the last year or so. The guys were excited to come here, we knew it would be one of the better batting wickets. It is on the back of hard work, Nicholas has had a good 12 months not only in franchise cricket but for West Indies as well. It is a good headache to have (McCoy picking 3 wickets). We started the tournament with a little advantage as we are playing at home and know the conditions. When I started my journey we were ranked 8 or 9 and now we are 3 in the world. The support has been incredible where ever we have gone and would hope the people would come and support us on Wednesday. I would like to thank Sammy and he has been a driving force in my journey as a leader.

Rashid Khan | Afghanistan captain: They were incredible with the way they started in the powerplay but we pulled it back in the middle overs and it was a good effort to restrict them to under 220. It is good that happened in this game and take away the learnings into the next round. There was a strong breeze blowing and bowling into the wicket was the way to go. As a bowler you need to come up with plans to keep the scoring to below under 10. The morale is still pretty high and this loss does not affect us. We have achieved our first goal of reaching the Super 8s and now it is about taking the next step.

Stats by Roshan Gede

- Afghanistan bundled out their opponents for sub-100 totals in their first three games, they lost by 100-plus runs today.

Captains with most T20I wins for West Indies
28 - Daren Sammy (W/L ratio: 1.647)
14 - Rovman Powell (W/L ratio: 2)
13 - Kieron Pollard (W/L ratio: 0.619)
11 - Carlos Brathwaite (W/L ratio: 0.647)
8 - Nicholas Pooran (W/L ratio: 0.571)

Longest winning streaks for West Indies in T20Is
8* - 2024
7 - 2012-2013
5 - 2017
4 - 2015-2016

Longest winning streaks for WI in T20 World Cups
4* in 2024
3 in 2012 (Champions)
3 in 2014 (Semi-finalists)
3 in 2016 (Champions)

Biggest defeat margins for Afghanistan in T20Is
116 runs vs England, Colombo RPS, 2012
104 runs vs West Indies, Gros Islet, 2024
101 runs vs India, Dubai, 2021
72 runs vs Sri Lanka, Dambulla, 2024
68 runs vs Ireland, Abu Dhabi, 2013

Biggest victory margins for WI in T20Is
134 runs vs Uganda, Guyana, 2024
104 runs vs Afghanistan, Gros Islet, 2024
84 runs vs Pakistan, Mirpur, 2014
74 runs vs Australia, Colombo RPS, 2012
73 runs vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2014
All five have come in the T20 World Cup

Nicholas Pooran | Player of the Match: You don’t want to be on 97 and get run-out but it was all about reaching a respectable total. I assessed the conditions early on, we had a good start in the powerplay, I had to take the responsibility in the middle overs with the Afghanistan spinners bowling. I just felt that it’s 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 when you get a good wicket like this, you got to capitalise, got to appreciate the conditions. It’s just not today, it started 12-14 months ago we have been consistent as a team, we went to No. 3 in the rankings. In the last game, Rutherford took the opportunity and played wonderfully, he inspired us.

23:42 Local Time, 03:42 GMT, 09:12 IST: The chase never really took off for Afghanistan. They lost Gurbaz in the first over and that almost sealed the game in West Indies' favour. He was their in-form batter and losing him for a duck set them back. Ibrahim kept the scoreboard ticking without really threatening to take the game. Motie and McCoy struck thrice in two overs and put the game well out of Afghanistan's reach. The wickets kept tumbling thereafter as the batters perished trying to clear the rope. All the West Indian bowlers were among the wickets but McCoy's 3/14 in the middle phase stands and the two spinners picked up a couple each. It was a comprehensive win from the hosts to close out the group stage. Hang around for the presentations..

Russell to Rashid Khan, out Caught by Powell!! West Indies win by 104 runs. Skipper Powell takes the catch. Russell gets a wicket to cap things off. Fullish delivery and it was there in the slot, Rashid tries to go down the ground but gets more height than distance, Powell runs in from long-off and takes a good catch. Rashid Khan c Powell b Russell 18(11) [4s-2 6s-1]

Russell to Rashid Khan, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Russell to Rashid Khan, SIX, smashed! Rashid is just going to throw his bat at everything now. Short of length delivery and he backs away, gets the space to free his arms and nails the pull over deep mid-wicket. 89 meter six..

Andre Russell [2.0-0-11-0] is back into the attack

Alzarri Joseph to Fazalhaq Farooqi, no run, full delivery on leg-stump, Farooqi defends it back to Joseph

Alzarri Joseph to Fazalhaq Farooqi, wide, goes for another short ball but slips it down leg, Farooqi ducks and manages to evade it

Alzarri Joseph to Fazalhaq Farooqi, no run, 144.3ks short and right at the batter, Farooqi fends it awkwardly and the ball lands safely into the off-side

Fazalhaq Farooqi, right handed bat, comes to the crease