Gurbaz blitz sinks Windies
Teenage opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit an attacking half-century to set up Afghanistan’s 29-run series-clinching win over West Indies in the third T20I on Sunday.
Gurbaz hit 79 off 52 balls as Afghanistan posted 156 for eight, a total their bowlers defended by restricting the West Indies to 127 for seven in Lucknow.
They won the series 2-1 after losing the opening game and being swept in the preceding ODIs 3-0.
Paceman Naveen-ul-Haq took three wickets to choke the West Indies’ chase despite a valiant 52 by wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope.
But it was the 17-year-old Gurbaz who stood out with his second T20I fifty after the Afghans were in early trouble at 12 for two. Gurbaz put on a crucial 50-run stand for the fourth wicket with former captain Asghar Afghan, and surpassed his previous T20I best of 61.
The two teams will next play a one-off Test starting November 27.
SCORES IN BRIEF
AFGHANISTAN: 156 for eight (Gurbaz 79; Paul 2-26)
WEST INDIES: 127 for seven in 20 overs (Hope 52; Naveen 3-24)
Result: Afghanistan won the match by 29 runs and won the three-match series 2-1.
Player-of-the-match: Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Player-of-the-series: Karim Janat.
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