Sports Reporter :
West Indies made a fighting total of 311 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs against Afghanistan in their match of the ICC World Cup Cricket at Leeds in England on Thursday.
West Indies had a poor start as opener Chris Gayle (7) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil off Dawlat Zadran when West Indies’ total was 21.
Opener Evin Lewis and first-down Shai Hope repaired the damage contributing together 88 runs for the second wicket partnership before Lewis was caught at the mid-wicket by Mohammad Nabi off Rashid Khan when West Indies’ score was 109 for the loss of two wickets.
Lewis knocked a fine 58. His 78-ball innings saw six fours and two sixes. It was Evin’s fifth ODI half century.
Hope and Shimron Hetmyer made another notable partnership. They put on together 65 runs in the third wicket stand before Hetmyer was caught at the mid-wicket by substitute Noor Ali Zadran off Dawlat Zadran when West Indies’ total was 174 for the loss of three wickets.
Hetmyer made 39 from 31 balls featuring three fours and two sixes.
Then Hope was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Rashid Khan off Mohammad Nabi when the team’s score was 192 for the loss of four wickets.
Hope notched up a splendid 77. His 92-ball innings was belted with six fours and two sixes. It was Hope’s 13th ODI half-century.
After Hope’s dismissal, Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder contributed together 105 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Pooran was run out by a joint-effort of Ikram Alikhil and Sayed Shizad when West Indies’ total was 297 for the loss of five wickets.
Pooran hit a grand 58. His 43-ball innings was studded with six fours and a sixer. It was Pooran’s 2nd ODI half century.
Then Jason Holder was caught by Dawlat Zadran off Sayed Shizad when West Indies’ score was 297 for the loss of six wickets.
Dawlat Zadran bagged a pair of wickets instead of 73 runs.
Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Sayed Shizad got one wicket each conceding 52, 56 and 56 runs respectively.
