Mujeeb takes hat-trick as Afghanistan down West Indies in second T20I

DUBAI: Mujeeb Ur Rahman's hat-trick, coupled with half-centuries from Sediqullah Atal and Darwish Rasooli, led Afghanistan to a comprehensive 39-run victory over West Indies in the second T20I of the three-match series here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The victory marked Afghanistan's second in the series and gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead over West Indies, while the third and final fixture is scheduled to be played at the same venue on Thursday.

Put into bat first, Afghanistan registered a formidable total of 189/4 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a hundred-plus partnership for the third wicket between Atal and Rasooli.

Afghanistan had a contrasting start to their innings as they had lost both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (one) and Ibrahim Zadran (22), inside five overs with just 37 runs on the board.

Following the early setback, Rasooli joined Atal in the middle, and the duo launched an astounding recovery by putting together a 117-run partnership before both perished in successive overs.

Rasooli remained the top-scorer with a 39-ball 68, studded with five fours and three sixes, while Atal made an anchoring 53 off 42 deliveries with the help of two fours and three sixes.

Following their dismissals, all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai bolstered the total with an unbeaten 26-run cameo, coming off just 13 deliveries and featuring three boundaries, including two sixes.

Matthew Forde was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies, taking two wickets for just 25 runs in his four overs, while Ramon Simmonds and Shamar Joseph could bag one apiece.

Set to chase a daunting 190-run target, West Indies' batting unit could muster 150 before getting bowled out in 18.5 overs despite captain Brandon King's half-century.

West Indies had a shaky start to the pursuit as they had been reduced to 38/3, courtesy of Mujeeb, who dismissed Evin Lewis (13) and Johnson Charles (zero) on the fifth and last deliveries of the eighth over.

He was then taken off the attack by captain Rashid Khan, while his counterpart King launched a recovery with Shimron Hetmyer by putting together a 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

The crucial stand was broken with Hetmyer's dismissal off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the 14th over. The middle-order batter scored 46 off 17 deliveries with the help of six sixes and a four.

Meanwhile, Mujeeb got rid of West Indies' mainstay King on the first delivery after being brought back into the attack and thus completed his hat-trick.

King remained the top-scorer with an anchoring 50 off 41 deliveries, laced with two fours and four sixes, while his dismissal sparked a match-defining collapse as West Indies lost their remaining five wickets for just 28 runs in the span of 22 deliveries.

Hat-trick hero Mujeeb spearheaded Afghanistan's bowling attack with magnificent bowling figures of 4/21 in his four overs and was thus adjudged the Player of the Match.

He was supported by Omarzai and Farooqi, who bagged two wickets each, while skipper Rashid chipped in with one.