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DUBAI: Afghanistan sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series with a commanding 39-run victory over West Indies, thanks to a hat-trick-laden four-wicket haul from Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Set a daunting 190 run target here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, West Indies batting lineup faltered and were bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs.
West Indies’ chase started on a shaky note as Alick Athanaze was run out in the second over for eight.
After an early wicket, Evin Lewis and skipper Brandon King revived the chase with a 29-run partnership.
However, Mujeeb ran through the middle order as he picked up both Lewis and Johnson Charles in successive deliveries to leave himself on a T20I hat-trick.
As a result, the West Indies were reduced to 38-3 in eight overs.
With the team in deep trouble, Shimron Hetmyer joined hands with Brandon King, and together they steadied the West Indies ship with a 68-run partnership from 33 balls.
The pair launched a recovery and brought the total to 106 in 13.3 overs.
Fazalhaq Farooqi broke the threatening stand with Hetmyer’s wicket, who was caught after scoring 46 from just 17, which included six maximums.
Mujeeb came back to bowl his final over and picked up Brandon King’s wicket to complete a hat-trick, and then followed it by cleaning Quentin Sampson.
King top-scored with 50 off 41 balls, striking four sixes and two fours.
His spell broke the back of West Indies batting lineup and handed Afghanistan an unassailable 2-0 lead with one match to spare.
For Afghanistan, Mujeeb was the pick of the bowlers, returning with figures of 4 for 21.
Earlier, put into bat first, Afghanistan racked up 189-4 in their allotted 20 overs.
After losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) and Ibrahim Zadran(220) in the first five overs, Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli stabilized the innings.
Both batters display authority at the crease, stitching an imperious 115-run stand to power their side to a commanding total.
Atal hit three sixes and two fours, whereas Rasooli’s 68 from 39 was laced with three sixes and five fours.
For West Indies, Matthew Forde took two wickets.
The third and final T20I of the series will be played on Thursday.
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