West Indies captain Brandon King acknowledged glimpses of potential within his team but called for significant improvement following a 39-run defeat to Afghanistan, marking a disappointing 2-0 series loss in Dubai. The match highlighted the West Indies’ ongoing struggles in the field, notably evidenced by several dropped catches that proved costly.
King praised various bowlers’ performances throughout the series, indicating that some may have earned spots in the upcoming World Cup squad. “A few of the bowlers have done well,” he noted. “Gudakesh Motie bowled a really good spell in the first game, and Jayden Seales also made an impact. Matthew Forde bounced back well in this match, showing promise.”
In the run chase of 190, a 68-run partnership between King, who scored 50, and Shimron Hetmyer, who made 46, initially provided a beacon of hope. King described their uncomplicated strategy: targeting the shorter boundary and leveraging their left-right batting combination. However, their dismissals heralded a rapid decline for the West Indies, as Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman secured a hat-trick, concluding with impressive figures of 4-21. After starting solidly at 106 for four, the West Indies fell to 150 all out.
With the series outcome sealed, King shifted his focus to foundational improvements for the team’s upcoming final fixture on Thursday. “We need to enhance our performance in all three departments. Fielding is crucial, as errant catches hinder our ability to limit their score. We also aim to secure better starts with the bat to lay a stronger foundation for our finishers. Overall improvement is essential, and we hope to progress with each match.”
Afghanistan’s triumph was substantially aided by their batsmen, with Darwish Rasooli impressing with a fluent 68, marking his third consecutive T20I half-century. He formed a vital 115-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal, who scored 53, propelling their team to a total of 189 for 4.
This victory marks Afghanistan’s third consecutive T20I series win, as they prepare for their final match before the T20 World Cup on Thursday. The West Indies will aim for a consolation win before embarking on their tour of South Africa, remaining hopeful that they can build on any positive aspects from their recent performances.