GROS ISLET – West Indies’ embarrassment plumbed new depths here Friday night when they suffered a humiliating 63-run defeat to ICC Associate side Afghanistan, in the opening day/night One-Day International of the three-match series.
Already dealing with the shame of their failure to qualify for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in England, the two-time former World champions were inflicted with even more disgrace as they collapsed without so much as a whimper to the Asian side at the Darren Sammy National Stadium.
Asked to chase what should have been a staightforward 213 for victory, the Caribbean side were mesmerised by 18-year-old leg-spinner Rashid Khan whose career-best seven-wicket haul sent them tumbling for 149 all out off 44.4 overs.
Shai Hope’s workman-like 35 was the best offering for the Windies while tail-ender Alzarri Joseph, batting at number nine, made 27 and opener Evin Lewis 21.
They were the only three to pass 20 as their counterparts failed to come to grip with the visitors’ varied attack on a sluggish surface.
Khan finished with seven for 18 – the fourth-best bowling performance in one-day history – to hand the Windies their 12th loss in their last 13 ODIs inside the last 19 months.
For Afghanistan, the victory marked their first over a major Test playing nation and was their seventh win in the last 11 outings.
Summarised scores:
Afghanistan 212 for six off 50 overs (Javed Ahmadi 81, Gulbadin Naib 41 not out, Mohammad Nabi 27 not out, Samiullah Shenwari 22; Ashley Nurse 2-34). West Indies 149 off 44.4 overs (Shai Hope 35, Alzarri Joseph 27, Evin Lewis 21; Rashid Khan 7-18, Dawlat Zadran 2-25). Afghanistan won by 63 runs. (CMC)
