Windies Defeat Afghanistan By 47 Runs To Clinch First ODI Series Win After Five Years

The bowling trio of Cottrell, Chase and Walsh bagged three wickets each to help West Indies defeat Afghanistan by 47 runs at Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow and clinch their first ODI series win since 2014. The last ODI series they won was against Bangladesh at home on 25 Aug 2014. For Windies, the pick of the bowlers was Roston Chase, who finished with 3/30 in his ten overs to put West Indies in control. Afghanistan lost a wicket in the first over of the innings but recovered well to put 45/1 on the scoreboard at the end of the Powerplay, needing a further 203 runs in the remaining 40 overs to seal a series-leveling win. Najibullah Zadran's fifty kept Afghanistan in the hunt - 73 needed in last 12 overs. Sheldon Cottrell dismissed Zadran for 56, putting an end to Afghanistan's chance of a win as well. Just the very next ball, Hyden Walsh made Windies the clear favourites as he dismissed Mohammad Nabi for an LBW. Zadran and Nabi added 68-run partnership for the sixth wicket but with both gone the hosts need 67 runs just three wickets in hand. Batting first, Nicholas Pooran top-scored with 67 to push his team to a decent total as Afghanistan was handed a target of 248 runs to chase and level the series. Windies opener Evin Lewis (50) and Shai Hope (43) stitched a 98-run opening stand to give their squad a great start. Hope also attained a unique milestone as he passed 1000 ODI runs in 2019. Afghanistan finally got their first wicket when Rashid Khan trapped Hope in front of stumps for an LBW. Squads (Playing XI): Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Najibullah Zadran, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman West Indies: Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Sheldon Cottrell, Alzarri Joseph, Hayden Walsh