Press Trust of India
Nagpur, March 27: Minnows Afghanistan scripted history Sunday as they defeated 2012 champions West Indies by six runs in their final group league encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 here to sign off on a memorable note. This was their first win in the main draw.
West Indies failed to reach a target of 124 as the Associate nation were able to restrict them to 117 for eight. The defeat however, does not change anything in final equations as West Indies have already qualified for the semifinals and in spite of the loss maintained their pole position in the table. They will play their semifinal in Mumbai.
The story of the day, however, was all about the talented Afghan boys, who have impressed one and all with their spirited display so far in the tournament. They had come close to beating England also and had even put up a spirited show against the South Africans while chasing a 200-plus target. However, lack of exposure stalled their efforts.
There were emotional scenes all around after Afghanistan completed the formalities, prompting West Indian star Chris Gayle, who was rested from the game, to congratulate them and even pose for pictures with the victorious team.
Put into bat by rival skipper Darren Sammy, Afghanistan scored 123/7 in 20 overs. They were reduced to 56 for five, but Najibullah Zadran’s (48 n o, 4×4, 1×6) unbeaten knock took them close to the 125-run mark.
It was leg-spinner Samuel Badree (3/14) who posed the initial problems for Afghanistan by sending the top three batters back into the hut. And at 56 for five, it looked like a romp in the park for the West Indians. But then Zadran had other ideas and he played with a lot of flair to see that his side’s bowlers had something to bowl at.
But more than his knock, the brilliant catch that Zadran took in the last over of the game to see the back of Carlos Brathwaite of West Indies that changed the game. He ran 20 metres to his left at the deep mid-wicket fence to pluck the ball out of thin air with the batsman trying to clear the ropes. At that stage West Indies needed 10 off four.
Overall, the Afghans bowled with a lot of discipline and fielded brilliantly. Dwayne Bravo (28, 29b, 1×4, 1×6) was the only West Indian batsman to offer some resistance as it looked that some of his other teammates were taking the game too casually. Leggie Rashid Khan (2/26) and off-spinner Mohammad Nabi (2/26), who bowled the last over were the pick of the Afghan bowlers.