After a sensational win in the first One-Day International, Afghanistan raised hopes of a memorable series win over a Test-playing nation.
However, what transpired on Sunday (June 11) was a dismal show from the Afghanistan batsmen who folded for 135 against Windies at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St. Lucia. Shai Hope was then instrumental in getting the team over the line with four wickets in hand with a 77-ball 48 after a mid-innings wobble.
With a small chase ahead of them, Windies came out with positive intent and polished off 37 in the first six overs before the dinner break. With wickets being key, Asghar Stanikzai introduced Rashid Khan right after the break and it took the legspinner just five deliveries to dismiss Kieron Powell. He then dismissed the dangerous looking Evin Lewis (33) to give Afghanistan a sniff.
Windies then lost Jonathan Carter and Jason Mohammed soon after to be left in a tricky situation at 72 for 4. Roston Chase (9) and Shai Hope, however, collaborated for a 26-run stand to guide the team forward before Rashid had the former stumped to leave the hosts five down.
With 36 more needed, Windies needed the calm of Hope to guide the innings through. He played out Rashid’s final over and then ensured there were no more hiccups as he guided the team home.
Earlier, Asghar Stanikzai had no hesitation to bat first on the same surface where the first match was played. The openers – Javed Ahmadi and Noor Ali – tried to follow the same template, getting the team to a cautious start and setting up a platform for the middle order to follow.
However, Windies decided to test the visitors with a barrage of short deliveries and the Afghanistan batsmen were found searching for answers. As many as five top order batsmen fell trying to fend off short deliveries from the pacers.
The opener scored 21 in the first seven overs before Jason Holder had Ali caught and bowled to give the team the much-needed early breakthrough. Things went downhill for the visitors from there as Ahmadi, who held the innings together in the last game and scored a fighting 81, was run out after some poor cricket from Rahmat Shah. The right-hander played the ball to the on side and took off for a single only to realise his mistake. Ahmadi responded to the call but found his partner scampering back to make his ground and was left in no man’s land. Holder completed the run out to leave Afghanistan two down with just 24 on the board after a slow start.
Gabriel, and then Alzarri Joseph, tormented the middle order with short deliveries as Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Shah and Mohammad Nabi fell trying to banged in deliveries. From 21 for no loss to 51 for 6, the visitors found themselves at a point of no return. The onus was on Gulbadin Naib to save the sinking ship. He scored 30 for the seventh wicket with Afsar Zazai (9) to lead a brief resistance.
Chase earned his first ODI wicket when he had Zazai caught at first slip in the 31st over but Windies were again met with some stern resistance by Naib and Dawlat Zadran. It took a stunning effort from Lewis to end the 31-run stand. Zadran tonked a length ball from Ashley Nurse but Lewis covered good ground to his left at the midwicket boundary and then completed a diving catch. Naib battled hard for his 71-ball 53 but with no support from the other batsmen, there was little he was able establish.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan 135 in 37.3 overs (Gulbadin Naib 53; Alzarri Joseph 2-15) lost to
Windies 138/6 in 39.2 overs (Shai Hope 48*; Rashid Khan 3-26) by four wickets.
