A phenomenal four-wicket performance, which included a hat-trick, by Mujeeb ur Rahman along with the contributions of Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal, who scored fifties each, resulted in Afghanistan winning the series against West Indies. The victory was much to the delight of the Afghans and the 39-run margin at the second T20I in Dubai last Wednesday cut down to the two-time world champions in the format by 39 runs. With this victory, Afghanistan has confirmed the series win with an unbeatable 2-0 lead over the Windies. The West Indies won the toss and opted to field first. Afghanistan lost their two openers for 37 runs in 4.5 overs. But the partnership of 115 runs between Atal (53 from 42 balls, including two fours and three sixes) and Rasooli (68 from 39 balls, including five fours and three sixes) boosted the Afghans and brought them back into the game.
Azmatullah Omarzai, the top-ranked T20I all-rounder, chipped in with a crucial cameo of 26* off 13 balls, making one four and two sixes, and eventually took Afghanistan to a total of 189/4 in 20 overs.
West Indies bowlers had Matthew Forde (2/25 in four overs) as the best. Shamar Joseph and Ramon Simmonds got a wicket each.
While on the run chase, WI was left struggling at 38/3 in the first eight overs, with Mujeeb taking both Evin Lewis and Johnson Charles in consecutive deliveries. Captain Brandon King (50 in 41 balls with two fours and four sixes) and Shimron Hetmyer (46 in 17 balls with a four and six sixes) added 68 runs for the fourth wicket. The next wicket of Brandon was Mujeeb’s hat-trick wicket that made him the third Afghanistan bowler after Rashid Khan and Karim Janat to achieve a T20I hat-trick.
The WI innings crumbled to 150 all out in just 18.5 overs, with Mujeeb (4/21), Omarzai (2/20), and Fazalhaq Farooqi (2/28) being the main bowling attack.