Afghanistan continued their remarkable rise in T20 cricket with a commanding 39-run victory over West Indies, sealing the three-match series with a game to spare. Half-centuries from Darwish Rasooli (68) and Sediqullah Atal (53) laid the platform before Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s devastating hat-trick dismantled West Indies’ chase of 190.
After being put under early pressure with the loss of both openers inside the powerplay, Rasooli and Atal steadied Afghanistan with a crucial 115-run third-wicket partnership. Rasooli maintained his rich vein of form, registering his third consecutive T20I fifty, blending clean strokeplay with authority through the middle overs. Atal played the perfect foil, anchoring the innings as Afghanistan surged to 189 for 4, boosted by a late flourish from Azmatullah Omarzai.
West Indies never recovered from a sluggish start in reply. Fazalhaq Farooqi’s tight opening spell restricted them to just 29 runs in the powerplay, before Mujeeb struck in dramatic fashion. The off-spinner removed Evin Lewis and Johnson Charles in successive deliveries before returning later to complete his maiden T20I hat-trick, dismissing Brandon King at a critical juncture and effectively ending the contest.
Despite a spirited counterattack from Shimron Hetmyer, who blasted six sixes in a rapid 46, West Indies collapsed under sustained pressure. Mujeeb finished with 4 for 21, as the visitors were bowled out for 150, losing their final five wickets for just 27 runs.
The win marks Afghanistan’s third consecutive T20I series triumph, underlining their growing consistency and depth ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. While West Indies will look to salvage pride in the final match, Afghanistan’s momentum, powered by form batters and world-class spin, continues to gather pace at the perfect time.
