West Indies Make T20 World Cup History with Dominant Victory Over Afghanistan
LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — The West Indies delivered a resounding statement of intent as they cruised past Afghanistan to remain unbeaten and advance to the next phase of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
In a match that underscored their prowess, the West Indies, already assured of qualification in the Super Eight stage, faced off against Afghanistan, another undefeated team from Group C, in Saint Lucia. Demonstrating their championship credentials, the co-hosts put on a stellar performance that left a lasting impression.
Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan elected to field first after winning the toss, hoping to make early inroads at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. However, the West Indies immediately signaled their intentions.
The start was nothing short of spectacular – a spectacle that had statisticians scrambling to record the milestones.
After losing Brandon King early in the second over, the hosts' momentum only accelerated as Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran unleashed a flurry of boundaries. Charles ignited the onslaught with three boundaries in the third over, setting the stage for Pooran's extraordinary onslaught in the following over against Azmatullah Omarzai – a record-setting 36 runs, including sixes and various extras.
This marked only the fifth time in Men’s T20I history that an over had yielded 36 runs, and the second time in a Men’s World Cup. The partnership between Charles and Pooran flourished, propelling the West Indies to 92/1 by the end of the Powerplay, the highest ever in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
Records continued to tumble as Afghanistan struggled to contain the onslaught. Despite a brief slowdown in boundary flow mid-innings, Pooran maintained the momentum, smashing his first T20 World Cup half-century off just 31 balls. Rovman Powell’s cameo and Andre Russell’s brief appearance further bolstered the West Indies' imposing total.
However, the highlight came from Pooran, who marched towards a potential century until a stunning run-out, triggered by a sensational throw from Omarzai, cut short his innings at 98 off 53 balls. The West Indies concluded with 218/5, their highest-ever score in a T20 World Cup match, solidifying their dominance.
The match showcased several record-breaking feats:
- Highest total in the Men's 2024 T20 World Cup
- Highest individual innings in the Men's 2024 T20 World Cup
- Highest Powerplay score in Men's T20 World Cup history
With this commanding performance, the West Indies have firmly asserted themselves as a formidable contender in the tournament.
For more updates and highlights, visit [AP Euro 2024](https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024).
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