The West Indies emphatically topped Group C of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 with a dominant 104-run victory over Afghanistan in a high-scoring encounter at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

Pooran’s Power Propels Windies Batting Onslaught

Nicholas Pooran, playing his first match of the tournament, stole the show with a blistering knock of 98 runs off just 53 balls. The left-hander unleashed his trademark power-hitting, smashing boundaries with disdain and launching the West indies to a mammoth total. He shared a crucial 80-run opening partnership with Johnson Charles (43) that laid the foundation for the West indies’ dominance. Even after Charles’ dismissal, Pooran continued the assault, finding able allies in Shai Hope (25) and Rovman Powell (26). The Windies posted a daunting 218/5 on the board, the highest total for them in this World Cup so far.

McCoy Leads Bowling Charge as Afghanistan Falter

Faced with a challenging target, Afghanistan’s chase never really got going. The West indies bowlers, with a point to prove after a shaky bowling performance in the previous match, were disciplined and clinical. Left-arm seamer Obed McCoy, in his first appearance of the tournament, impressed with figures of 3/14, rattling the Afghan top-order with his pace and accuracy. Spinners Akeel Hosein (2/21) and Gudakesh Motie (2/28) tightened the screws further, restricting the scoring rate and picking up crucial wickets. The Afghan batters were eventually bundled out for a meager 114 runs in 16.2 overs, handing the Windies a comprehensive victory.

This victory sends a strong message from the West indies. They are a team to be reckoned with in the knockout stages, especially with their batting firepower on display. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their batting frailties before their next challenge in the Super Eights.