In an unimportant match of the world cup 2019 played between West Indies and Afghanistan who were playing for honor after being knocked out of the world cup, West Indies won the contest by 23 runs against a gritty Afghanistan team who gave a tight fight in a superb chase. Chasing 312 runs to win, Afghanistan lost the match by just 23 runs. West Indies would have had their heart in the mouth when Afghanistan was giving a chase at their big total with a ‘never give up’ attitude. After losing their opener Gulbadin Naib early in the match, Rahmat Shah (62 runs) and the 18 year old Ikram Alikhil (86 runs) put on 133 runs for the 2nd wicket in quick time. Had Ikram scored his hundred he would have become the youngest player to achieve that feat, but he missed out narrowly. But what an innings he played!
Even as Asghar Afghan (40 runs) and Sayed Shirzad tried some heroics, they couldn’t take their team home because Afghanistan kept losing wickets around them. Kemar Roach with 3/37 was the most impressive bowler for West Indies while Carlos Brathwaite with 4 for 63 was the leading wicket taker.
Universal Boss, Chris Gayle had played his last world cup match. Though he did not flourish with the bat, he took a wicket and ended his career as far as world cup matches is concerned. On the verge of his retirement in the next few months, what a campaigner this big man from the Windies has been for cricket! He is a brand. Take a bow champion Gayle!
Earlier Shai Hope (77 runs), Evin Lewis and Nicholas Pooran (58 runs per head) and a terminal onslaught by Jason Holder (45 runs in 34 balls) made sure that West Indies reached a healthy total. In between the Afghanistan bowlers bowled tight spells and denied Windies from scoring free. But the Windies came back to post 300+ total on board which was looking unlikely at the midway of the match.
It is sad that the Afghanistan team will go home losing all their world cup matches, but they had their moments. They would have won 2-3 matches if they would have played to a different plan. But they will learn with time!
West Indies, too had a mixed bag of fluctuating fortunes. They were not a bad team; they lost few tight and close matches which they would have won. They will take few lessons home, and of course..this win, in their last match!
Until we catch up for more action from the next match, it is goodbye from me folks!
Keep watching the world cup matches and have fun!!
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