Hope hits ton as Windies beat Afghanistan in third ODI to sweep series

Opener Shai Hope struck an unbeaten century as West Indies beat Afghanistan by five wickets in the third one-day international in Lucknow to complete a 3-0 sweep on Monday.

Hope made 109 and built crucial partnerships including an unbeaten 71-run stand with Roston Chase, 42 not out, to anchor West Indies’ chase of 250 with eight balls to spare.

Paceman Keemo Paul returned figures of 3-44 in Afghanistan’s 249 for seven to play a key part in the win.

Earlier, a century stand between Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi lifted Afghanistan to a decent total.

Afghan, who made 86, put on 127 runs with Nabi, 50 not out, for the sixth wicket after Afghanistan slipped to 118-5.

The West Indies, who have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, won the toss and put Afghanistan in to bat.

Paceman Keemo Paul claimed three wickets to rattle the Afghanistan top-order despite left-handed opener Hazratullah Zazai recording his second T20 fifty. Hazratullah became Paul’s third victim after top-edging a short delivery to deep mid-wicket for 50.

Afghan then took stock to re-build the innings at Afghanistan’s adopted home in Lucknow. India has been the home of the war-torn nation’s cricket team since 2015.

Nabi joined forces and the batting pair took the attack to the opposition, with some attacking shots in the final half of the innings.

Afghan finally fell to paceman Alzarri Joseph after smashing three fours and six sixes in his 85-ball knock.

Nabi, who hit three fours and a six in his 66-ball stay, raised his 15th ODI fifty on the penultimate ball of the innings as Afghanistan managed 54 runs from the last five overs.

The two teams will now play three Twenty20 internationals starting Nov. 14 in Lucknow.

The West Indies, who had already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, made two changes from their previous win on Saturday.

Debutant batsman Brandon King and all-rounder Keemo Paul make the XI in place of Jason Holder and Sheldon Cottrell.

Afghanistan have also made two changes with opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran making his ODI debut and paceman Yamin Ahmadzai added to the starting line-up.

Agence France-Presse

















SCOREBOARD

Afghanistan

H Zazai c Lewis b Paul    50

I Zadran lbw b Joseph    2

R Shah c Pooran b Paul    10

I Alikhil b Paul    9

A Afghan c Shepherd b Joseph    86

N Zadran c King b Chase    30

M Nabi not out    50

R Khan c Walsh b Shepherd    0

Total (7 wickets, 50 overs)    249

Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Ibrahim), 2-45 (Rahmat), 3-65 (Alikhil), 4-74 (Hazratullah), 5-118 (Najibullah), 6-245 (Afghan), 7-249 (Rashid)

Bowling: Joseph 9-1-59-2 (w1), Shepherd 9-0-47-1 (w3), Chase 10-0-24-1, Paul 10-2-44-3 (w3), Walsh 7-0-51-0, Pollard 5-0-20-0 (w1)

West Indies (target 250)

S Hope not out    109

E Lewis lbw b Mujeeb    1

S Hetmyer lbw b Mujeeb    0

B King b Rashid    39

N Pooran c Ibrahim b Ashraf    21

K Pollard Najibullah b Nabi    32

R Chase not out    42

Total (5 wickets, 48.4 overs)    253

Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Lewis), 2-4 (Hetmyer), 3-68 (King), 4-119 (Pooran), 5-182 (Pollard)

Bowling: Mujeeb 10-1-49-2 (w1), Yamin 8.4-1-49-0, Ashraf 10-0-57-1, Nabi 10-1-47-1, Rashid 10-0-46-1

Result: West Indies won by five wickets

Series: West Indies won the 3-match series 3-0