Afghanistan v West Indies
Wisden's review of Afghanistan v West Indies
Tim Wigmore
15-Apr-2017
At Nagpur, March 27, 2016 (floodlit). Afghanistan won by six runs. Toss: West Indies. Twenty20 international debut: E. Lewis.
An unforgettable day for Afghan cricket ended with Chris Gayle taking a selfie with the victors and dancing with Mohammad Shahzad. It was Afghanistan's first win over a top-eight nation - and would look even more impressive when West Indies went on to take the tournament. After Afghanistan had been put in, Shahzad briefly looked imperious, skipping down the track to launch Benn for six. But he and his colleagues were hapless against Badree. Only Najibullah Zadran, fusing power and unorthodoxy, inspired confidence. Afghanistan's 123 did not seem enough, but West Indies - already through to the semi-finals - had rested Gayle, and his replacement, the Trinidad lefthander Evin Lewis, made a seven-ball debut duck. In the sixth over, Charles played on to Hamid Hassan; three balls later, Fletcher retired hurt with a pulled hamstring; two after that, Samuels chopped a Rashid Khan googly on to his stumps. Ramdin and Bravo added a cautious 41, and West Indies needed 45 from six overs when Mohammad Nabi trapped Bravo. Tension grew as Hassan was called for bowling a second high full toss (though the batsman, Russell, was left rubbing his backside). Gulbadeen Naib finished off his over, and was then thumped for two sixes by Brathwaite, leaving Nabi to defend ten off the last. Brathwaite swung and missed at the first two balls, and was wonderfully caught by Najibullah in the deep off the third. Afghanistan's celebrations enthused everyone - except perhaps Phil Simmons, West Indies' coach, who was unamused by the willingness of his players to join in.
Man of the Match: Najibullah Zadran.
An unforgettable day for Afghan cricket ended with Chris Gayle taking a selfie with the victors and dancing with Mohammad Shahzad. It was Afghanistan's first win over a top-eight nation - and would look even more impressive when West Indies went on to take the tournament. After Afghanistan had been put in, Shahzad briefly looked imperious, skipping down the track to launch Benn for six. But he and his colleagues were hapless against Badree. Only Najibullah Zadran, fusing power and unorthodoxy, inspired confidence. Afghanistan's 123 did not seem enough, but West Indies - already through to the semi-finals - had rested Gayle, and his replacement, the Trinidad lefthander Evin Lewis, made a seven-ball debut duck. In the sixth over, Charles played on to Hamid Hassan; three balls later, Fletcher retired hurt with a pulled hamstring; two after that, Samuels chopped a Rashid Khan googly on to his stumps. Ramdin and Bravo added a cautious 41, and West Indies needed 45 from six overs when Mohammad Nabi trapped Bravo. Tension grew as Hassan was called for bowling a second high full toss (though the batsman, Russell, was left rubbing his backside). Gulbadeen Naib finished off his over, and was then thumped for two sixes by Brathwaite, leaving Nabi to defend ten off the last. Brathwaite swung and missed at the first two balls, and was wonderfully caught by Najibullah in the deep off the third. Afghanistan's celebrations enthused everyone - except perhaps Phil Simmons, West Indies' coach, who was unamused by the willingness of his players to join in.
Man of the Match: Najibullah Zadran.