A sensational hat-trick from Shamar Springer in the penultimate over powered West Indies to a dramatic 13-run victory over Afghanistan, denying the hosts a 3-0 T20I series sweep in Dubai. Springer’s match-defining burst dismantled Afghanistan’s chase just as it appeared to be slipping away, breathing fresh life into West Indies’ T20 World Cup ambitions.
Defending 151, West Indies were staring at defeat with Afghanistan requiring 23 runs from 12 balls, six wickets in hand and Rahmanullah Gurbaz well set. Springer then produced a moment of brilliance, dismissing Gurbaz (73), Rashid Khan and Shahidullah in successive deliveries with clever changes of pace and pinpoint accuracy. The allrounder became only the third West Indian after Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd to claim a men’s T20I hat-trick, sealing the game with a nerveless 19th over that cost just five runs.
Earlier, Gurbaz anchored Afghanistan’s chase after a cautious start, recovering from 17 off 19 balls to bring up his fifty from 44 deliveries. His partnership with Ibrahim Zadran steadied the innings before wickets from Matthew Forde and Khary Pierre injected late tension. Yet it was Springer’s intervention that turned the contest on its head, supported by sharp catching in the deep when it mattered most.
West Indies’ innings had earlier been inconsistent but opportunistic. Stand-in captain Brandon King top-scored with 47, while late cameos from Matthew Forde (27 off 11) and Springer himself lifted the total to a competitive 151. Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan was outstanding, conceding just 13 runs while claiming two key wickets in a boundary-less spell.
Rookie left-armer Ramon Simmonds held his nerve in the final over to close out the match, underlining West Indies’ growing depth ahead of the global showpiece. While Afghanistan head to India for the T20 World Cup still searching for consistency at the death, West Indies take momentum into their upcoming series in South Africa before returning to Kolkata, the city where they famously lifted the trophy in 2016.
