Leg-spinner Rashid Khan produced a magical spell of 7/18, the fourth best match haul in ODIs, to hand over a memorable win for Afghanistan in the 1st ODI of the three-match series at Gros Islet, St. Lucia. While the most of the cricketing universe was glued to the television witnessing a historic feat by Bangladesh at Cardiff, Afghanistan, in a different time zone, silently thumped West Indies in spectacular fashion.
It was a simple victory for Afghanistan despite managing just 212/6 after winning the toss. The combined bowling effort from the hosts proved too tough to handle for the batting side and only two players Javed Ahmadi (81 from 101 balls) and tail-ender Gulbadin Naib (41 from 28 balls) could manage decent scores which served as a platform for the functional total that was put on the board.
West Indies were expected to wrap up the chase. But, they were denied any opportunity to do so, right from the start. Kieran Powell departed in the 3rd over off Dawlat Zadran’s bowling. It wasn’t good to see the opener walk away especially after a slow start which saw the batting side accumulate only 3 runs in opening 2 overs.
Shai Hope and Evin Lewis added some runs before the latter lost his wicket to Gulbadin Naib. This wicket triggered the epic downfall that led a shattering defeat. Skipper Asghar Stanikzai introduced the wily leg-spinner Rashid Khan and unboxed tricks that left the opposition dumbfounded.
Bowling with his trademark accuracy and googly, Rashid Khan picked wickets in clumps to knock out the Windies completely. He stood a chance of taking a hat-trick twice! But, unfortunately, failed to do it on both the occasions. However, his impact on the match was rock solid
He struck in his first over, not once but twice, off the first two delivery. Jason Mohammad was the first to fall after he edged one behind to the first slip while the reliable Roston Chase was snapped up for a golden duck. The hat trick was denied but he put himself in the same position in the following over, claiming Shai Hope and Jason Holder of the 3rd and the 4th deliveries in the 24th over. Luck did not favour him as he failed to make it three in three once again.
But, regardless of the inability to gain a hattrick, he continued to make the Windies bleed wickets all on his own. The final delivery of the 29th oversaw Ashley Nurse get LBW after misreading a googly. This completed his five-wicket haul required a mere 24 balls to be achieved.
Alzarri Joseph and Jonathan Carter hung around for a while to delay the winning celebrations. However, Rashid wiped out the tail once Zadran got rid of Carter, the only proper batsmen in the middle, and broke their small partnership.
Joseph got trapped LBW with another googly and the last man standing Miguel Cummins was cleaned up with a leg break.
Brief Scores:
Afghanistan: 212/6 (Javed Ahmadi 81; Ashley Nurse 2/34)
West Indies: 149 all out in 44.4 overs (Shai Hope 35; Rashid Khan 7/18)
Man of the Match: Rashid Khan