AFG vs WI Live Score

6:33 PM IST The West Indies' bowling unit pulled off a stunning comeback, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat as they restricted Afghanistan to 138, winning the match by 13 runs. Afghanistan had looked set to cruise to a comfortable win, riding on a solid start from their openers, with the score reading 95 for 1 in the chase of 152. However, the Windies' bowlers conjured up a spellbinding performance, taking the game away from the hosts in the final 10 overs. The turning point came in the 19th over, courtesy Shamar Springer's sensational hat-trick, which left Afghanistan reeling and unable to recover.

6:29 PM IST That wraps up a competitive T20 series between Afghanistan and the West Indies, with the hosts ultimately claiming a 2-1 victory. While the Afghans take home the trophy, the West Indies will be buoyed by their fighting spirit and win in the final match, ending the series on a positive note. Both teams depart this series with significant takeaways and a clear picture of what needs to be finetuned in the limited weeks remaining before the ICC T20 World Cup begins. The stage is set for a thrilling tournament as these sides, now well-tested, prepare for the global showcase. Cheers for now.

6:28 PM IST Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan emphasized the critical importance of the series against the West Indies as a final preparatory benchmark ahead of the World Cup, providing numerous positives and vital energy for the squad. He noted that the games offered a key opportunity to assess the team's composure during chases, specifically how they handle targets around 150-160 runs in similar conditions to those expected in the tournament. Rashid concluded that continuous improvement in the death overs is essential, stressing that the bowling unit must work on restricting opponents from scoring 45-50 runs in the final stages of an innings.

6:26 PM IST West Indies captain Brandon King praised his entire bowling unit for making it difficult for the Afghanistan batters during the final match, effectively executing their plans from a bowling point of view. King indicated that this victory and performance level are much closer to the standard the team is capable of achieving, suggesting positive momentum as they look ahead to the ICC T20 World Cup.

6:25 PM IST Darwish Rasooli, named Player of the Series, acknowledged that while the team is pleased with the series win, they remain focused on continuous improvement as they ramp up preparations for the upcoming World Cup. He highlighted the middle order as a specific area requiring further refinement to ensure the team is fully prepared for the global stage. Despite the narrow loss in the final game, Rasooli expressed confidence that the squad will address these gaps and certainly bounce back stronger in their future fixtures.

6:23 PM IST Player of the Match for this game is Shamar Springer. Shamar expressed his delight to claim a T20I hat-trick, a feat that felt great after patiently waiting for his turn to return to the side. He emphasized his sole focus on giving his best whenever he gets an opportunity. Reflecting on his crucial batting partnership with Matthew Forde, Springer revealed their simple strategy was to minimize dot balls and aggressively look for boundaries. When discussing his bowling approach, he noted his intention to make the batsmen hit towards the larger boundaries and maintain sharp focus on his execution.