West Indies vs India
West Indies. Credit: Getty Images

West Indies managed to secure their second win of the ICC World Cup 2019 as they beat Afghanistan by 23 runs in Headingley to finish their campaign on a winning note. Although the Afghans will fly back without a win but they have won hearts with their spirited performance in England.

West Indies end with a victory

Chasing a mammoth target of 312 runs set by West Indies, Afghanistan lost their skipper Gulbadin Naib in the second over. Reeling at five for one, Rahmat Shah and 17-year-old Ikram Ali Khil revived the innings and staged a brilliant platform for the chase adding 133 runs for the second wicket. Both of them batted with great authority and reached individual half-centuries. Carlos Brathwaite provided the breakthrough to dismiss Shah as Chris Gayle grabbed an outstanding catch at covers. Najibullah Zadran arrived in the middle with the departure of Shah and straightaway took the attack to the opposition.

ICC World Cup 2019: Twitter Reacts As West Indies Finish On A Winning Note
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But Gayle provided another breakthrough to get the set Ikram out to have Afghanistan at 189 for three. The Afghan wicket-keeper got out at 87 and missed an opportunity to become the youngest cricketer to score a century in the World Cup. West Indies capitalised on the opportunity to sneak in two more wickets getting rid of Najibullah and Mohammad Nabi to change the course of the game. Former skipper Asghan Afghan tried to steer the chase with a good knock but Carlos Brathwaite picked his second to knock Afghanistan out of the game. Brathwaite finished with a four-wicket haul to end his and his team’s campaign with a win.

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Batting first, West Indies finally produced a good batting effort they have been lacking since the start of the World Cup. Although they lost Chris Gayle early, Evin Lewis and Shai Hopes revived the innings sharing an 88-run partnership for the second wicket. Lewis played the attacking role while Hope rotated the strike to build the innings. Lewis departed soon after reaching his half-century but Shimron Hetmyer joined hands to carry on the innings. But Hetmyer once again threw his wickets after doing the hardwork as Afghanistan bounced back to have West Indies at 192 for four removing Shai Hope as well.

ICC World Cup 2019: Twitter Reacts As West Indies Finish On A Winning Note
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But Nicholas Pooran and skipper Jason Holder played two outstanding knocks against some top-class bowling by the Afghanistan spinners. They added 105 runs from just 68 deliveries to take the score almost close to the 300-run mark before Pooran departed after another well-made fifty. Carlos Brathwaite struck two fours and one six in the last over to take the score to 311 runs at the end of 50 overs. It proved too much for Afghanistan as West Indies registered their second win of the World Cup to finish on a positive note.

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