West Indies defeated Afghanistan by 104 runs in the final match of the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Tuesday at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium.
Nicholas Pooran played a belligerent game by scoring 98 runs of 53 balls, which included six fours and eight sixes. However, Afghanistan only managed to make 114 runs in 16.2 overs.
The over started with Omarzai bowling a full and wide delivery but Pooran managed to hit it for a six. The next ball of the over was a no-ball as the Afghan all-rounder overstepped, and it was hit for a four. The next ball, which was a free hit, Omarzi tried to bowl a bouncer but the ball went above the keeper’s head, and five were given. The free hit remained, but the Windies batter couldn’t make the best of it.
The third legal ball went for four leg byes as it clipped Pooran’s pads and ended up beating the keeper too. Three balls were remaining and Pooran hit a four and two sixes, writing his name in the history books forever.
Following Karim Janat, Omarzai is the second bowler from Afghanistan to give 36 runs in one over to the opposite team. Janat helped Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh earlier this year.
However, Janat’s over included one extra run, while Omarzai’s included 10 extras — five wides, a no-ball, and four leg byes.
Nicholas Pooran beats Chris Gayle
Pooran’s innings was full of bravery as in the 18th over, he smashed Rashid Khan for 24 runs, which included three sixes. He ended up breaking the legendary Chris Gayle’s record of most sixes (124) by a West Indies batter in T20Is, taking his tally to 128 with two more maximums in the next over.
Additionally, Pooran also became the sixth batter in the Men’s T20 World Cup to reach the landmark of 500 sixes. This was also the fourth-highest powerplay score in all T20Is.
On the other hand, Charles (43 off 27), Shai Hope (25 off 17), and captain Rovman Powell (26 off 15) also made impactful contributions for the West Indies.
Meanwhile, Pooran was given the Player of the Match award, and both teams have qualified for the Super Eight.
Highest Powerplay scores in T20Is
102/0 - SA vs WI, Centurion, 2023
98/4 - WI vs SL, Coolidge, 2021
93/0 - IRE vs WI, St George's, 2020
92/1 - WI vs AFG, Gros Islet, 2024
Most runs in an over in T20Is
36 - Yuvraj Singh (IND) vs Stuart Broad (ENG), Durban, 2007
36 - Kieron Pollard (WI) vs Akila Dananjaya (SL), Coolidge, 2021
36 - Rohit Sharma & Rinku Singh (IND) vs Karim Janat (AFG), Bengaluru, 2024
36 - Dipendra Singh Airee (NEP) vs Kamran Khan (QAT), Al Amerat, 2024
36 - Nicholas Pooran & Johnson Charles (WI) vs Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG), St. Lucia, 2024
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