Dubai: Afghanistan emerged as the champions of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers defeating West Indies by seven wickets in the final at Harare.
After bowling out West Indies for 204 in 46.5 overs, Afghanistan reached the target in style in just the 41st over with Mohammad Nabi hitting three consecutive sixes off Chris Gayle.
It was another glorious day in Afghanistan cricket history, though the team had already qualified along with the West Indies for the 2019 World Cup in England.
Though Nabi remained unbeaten on 27 off just 12 balls, it was their opener Mohammad Shahzad that paved the way for the team to the victory through a breezy 84 off 93 balls with 11 boundaries and two sixes.
After winning the man of the match award, Shahzad remarked: “My job is to hit the ball and people’s job is to watch the ball, so I don’t watch the ball when I hit it. My form came back at the right time, when my team needed it. My team played good cricket and now we’re champions. Proud of the guys.”
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat but lost Chris Gayle for just 10. Though Evin Lewis (27) and Shai Hope (23) took the score to 50, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan struck repeatedly to push them to 101 for five.
Though Rovman Powell hit 44 runs, West Indies were restricted to a gettable total. Afghanistan’s 16-year-old off spinner Mujeeb Ur Rehman returned with figures of four for 43 backed by Naib with two wickets.
Chasing the total, Afghanistan lost opener Naib for 14 but Shehzad and one-drop Rahmat Shah, who hit 51 runs, took the game away from West Indies. They put on a partnership of 90 runs and took the score to 148 by the 31st over. After Gayle picked the wicket of Shah, Mohamad Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari carried the team to the target.
Brief scores: Afghanistan bt West Indies by 7 wkts. West Indies 204 in 46.5 overs (Evin Lewis 27, Shai Hope 23, Shimron Hetmyer 38, Ashley Nurse 26n.o, Rovman Powell 44, Mujeeb Ur Rehman 4 for 43, Gulbadin Naib 2 for 28) Afghanistan 206 for 2 in 40.4 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 84, Rahmat Shah 51, Mohammad Nabi 27n.o, Samiullah Shenwari 20n.o, Chris Gayle 2 for 38) Man of the match: Mohammad Shahzad.
