In a dramatic conclusion to their T20 International series, the West Indies cricket team secured a morale-boosting 15-run victory against Afghanistan in Dubai. Playing for pride after conceding the series in the first two matches, the Caribbean side demonstrated remarkable resilience to claim their first-ever win at the Dubai International Stadium.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan’s decision to field first after winning the toss marked a strategic departure from previous matches, intended to test his squad under varying conditions ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup. The West Indies, sent in to bat, built their innings around captain Brandon King’s determined 47 runs from 35 deliveries. Despite struggling to maintain momentum through the middle overs, late explosive contributions from Matthew Forde (27 off 11 balls) and Shamar Springer (16 off 9 balls) propelled the team to 151/7—the highest total recorded in the series.
Afghanistan appeared poised for a clean sweep when openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran established a solid 74-run partnership. However, the West Indies bowlers mounted a spectacular comeback through disciplined line and length, gradually stifling the scoring rate. The match turned decisively in the 19th over when Barbadian all-rounder Shamar Springer achieved a sensational hat trick, dramatically shifting momentum.
With Afghanistan requiring 20 runs from the final over, young bowler Ramon Romario Simmonds delivered under immense pressure, expertly defending the total to secure a memorable victory. This triumph provides crucial momentum for the West Indies as they prepare to face South Africa on January 27 in their final bilateral series before the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.