BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DESPITE a thunderstorm that dumped large amounts of rain on Warner Park last evening (Jun. 3), the West Indies unit easily won against Afghanistan by 29 runs under the Duckworth Lewis method to clinch the three-match series with one more game to be played.
Winning the toss under overcast conditions, West Indies elected to bat first.
With rain threatening, openers Chadwick Walton and Evin Lewis got the Windies off to a brisk start when they punished the Afghans for bowling too short or pitching too full, in a 42-run partnership.
In the first over of the game, Walton masterfully whipped the first delivery from Dawlat Zadran behind square for a boundary, and the fifth one, wide and short, was also pulled to the boundary.
The next over saw an attacking Walton smacking Karim Janat passed the mid-wicket fielder for another boundary.
However, Walton’s attack came to an end, following a short stoppage to deal with an injury to Lewis, when he mistimed a Mohammad Nabi delivery and was holed out at long-on.
He went for 29.
Several overs later, Lewis made his way back to the pavilion after he was caught at mid-wicket for 25.
The clouds soon after opened and caused a near two-hour delay with puddles of water forming on the field.
The game was then reduced to 15 over per side, leaving the West Indies to put up a formidable total with five overs remaining.
Upon resumption, with the total on 79 for 2, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels and their Captain Carlos Brathwaite launched an all-out attack that saw them ending the innings at 112 for 3, while Gulbadin Naib picked up one for 10 from two overs and Nabi one for 21 from two overs.
Needing 123 to win, the Windies pace attack had proved too much for the Afghans and they crumbled for 93.
The visitors never got into any rhythm as the West Indies quick bowlers picked up wickets in quick succession as they restricted them to the paltry total.
Kesrick Williams was the pick of the bowlers, bagging 3 for 11 in 2.3 overs, while Brathwaite took 2 for 26.
Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree and Jerome Taylor all took one wick each.
With the victory, the home side has won the three-man series, with the final game slated for tomorrow (Jun. 5) at the same venue.
