LUCKNOW: Teenage opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit an attacking half-century to set up Afghanistan’s 29-run series-clinching win over West Indies in the decisive third Twenty20 International here on Sunday.

Rahmanullah hammered 79 off 52 balls as Afghanistan posted 156 for eight, a total their bowlers defended by restricting the West Indies to 127-7 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 wicket-keeper/batsman Shai Hope.

“You have to be smart and cool and calm as a professional player. Sometimes you are losing but your energy and mindset for upcoming matches is more important,” said skipper Rashid Khan. “Yes we lost the first three ODIs and the first T20 but still the focus was that we can still win two trophies — T20s and Test cricket.”

But it was the 17-year-old Rahmanullah, a wicket-keeper/batsman, who stood out with his second T20I fifty after the Afghans were in early trouble at 12 for two.

Rahmanullah, named man-of-the-match, put on a crucial 50-run stand for the fourth wicket with former captain Asghar Afghan, who made 24, and surpassed his previous T20I best of 61.

He smashed six fours and five sixes before falling to West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard.

Pacemen Sheldon Cottrell, Kesrick Williams and Keemo Paul took two wickets each.

The West Indies lost regular wickets to falter in their chase against a disciplined Afghanistan attack that made the most of a slow track.

Hope, who was dropped on 11 by Naveen off Gulbadin Naib, completed his second T20 International fifty but got little support from the other end.

Bowling all-rounder Karim Janat could not repeat his heroics from the second game where he claimed five wickets and scored 26 runs, but was still named man-of-the-series.

“The guys would have taken a lot from this series and how to adapt and play on slower pitches,” said Pollard. “We have a long-term plan, but we have to deal with what’s in front of us right now. Can’t say what will happen in October next year [for the T20 World Cup].”

The two teams will next play a one-off Test starting from Nov 27 at the same venue.

Scoreboard

AFGHANISTAN:

Hazratullah Zazai c Lewis b Cottrell 0

Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Paul b Pollard 79

Karim Janat c Hope b Cottrell 2

Ibrahim Zadran run out 1

Asghar Afghan c King b Paul 24

Najibullah Zadran c Pollard b Williams 14

Mohammad Nabi c Holder b Paul 15

Rashid Khan c Cottrell b Williams 0

Gulbadin Naib not out 4

Naveen-ul-Haq not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-11) 15

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 20 overs) 156

DID NOT BAT: Mujeeb Ur Rahman

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-12, 3-44, 4-94, 5-120, 6-142, 7-149, 8-151.

BOWLING: Cottrell 4-0-29-2 (2w); Holder 4-0-26-0 (1w); Williams 4-0-31-2 (3w); Pierre 3-0-19-0 (4w); Paul 3-0-26-2; Pollard 2-0-21-1 (1w).

WEST INDIES:

L.M.P. Simmons b Mujeeb 7

E. Lewis lbw b Karim 24

B.A. King b Naveen 1

S.D. Hope c Asghar b Gulbadin 52

S.O. Hetmyer c Asghar b Rashid 11

K.A. Pollard c Najibullah b Naveen 11

J.O. Holder c Nabi b Naveen 6

K.M.A. Paul not out 4

K. Pierre not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-5, NB-1) 10

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 127

FALL OF WKTS: 1-13, 2-16, 3-42, 4-80, 5-112, 6-118, 7-124.

DID NOT BAT: K.O.K. Williams, S.S. Cottrell.

BOWLING: Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-0-9-1 (1w); Naveen-ul-Haq 4-0-24-3 (1w); Karim Janat 4-0-33-1 (1nb, 1w); Gulbadin Naib 4-0-26-1 (2w); Mohammad Nabi 1-0-13-0; Rashid Khan 4-0-18-1.

RESULT: Afghanistan won by 29 runs to win three-match series 2-1.

UMPIRES: Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afghanistan) and Izzatullah Safi (Afghanistan).

TV UMPIRE: Ahmed Shah Durrani (Afghanistan).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Karim Janat.

FIRST MATCH: West Indies won by 30 runs.

SECOND MATCH: Afghanistan won by 41 runs.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2019