DUBAI INTERNATIONAL CRICKET STADUIM buzzed with excitement as West Indies roared back in the T20 series finale against Afghanistan. Shamar Springer’s blistering hat-trick powered a 15-run triumph, preventing a whitewash after Afghanistan clinched the series 2-1.
Opting to bowl first, Afghanistan watched West Indies recover from early setbacks to reach 151/7. Skipper Brandon King’s 47 (35) was the bedrock, blending aggression with caution amid three sixes. Johnson Charles’ 17 set the tone in a 27-run powerplay partnership. Explosive cameos followed: Matthew Forde’s 27 off 11 (2×4, 2×6) and Springer’s unbeaten 16 injected momentum.
Naveen-ul-Haq, Rashid Khan, and Azmatullah Omarzai shared six wickets, but it wasn’t enough to stifle the hosts.
Afghanistan’s pursuit began brilliantly. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (71 off 58: 8×4, 1×6) and Ibrahim Zadran (28 off 27: 4×4) forged 72 in the first 10 overs. Yet, the chase derailed post-powerplay. No other batter crossed 10, exposing frail depth.
Springer emerged the destroyer-in-chief, snaring 4/20. His 19th over hat-trick—Gurbaz, Rashid, Shahidullah—turned the game on its head. Forde (1), Pierre (1), and Simmonds (1) mopped up, bowling Afghanistan out for 136/8.
This win caps a rollercoaster series where Afghanistan triumphed convincingly in the first two games (38 and 39 runs). West Indies depart with heads held high, courtesy of one player’s extraordinary spell.