Dubai: Impressive half-centuries from Ibrahim Sadran and Darwish Rasooli led Afghanistan to a 38-run win in the first T20I of the three-match T20I series against West Indies.
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan’s decision to bat first paid off as his team posted a mammoth total of 181/3 in 20 overs.
Atalans had a mixed start to their innings as they scored just 19 runs for the loss of two wickets in three overs.
Following an early stumble, Rasooli joined forces with Sadran in the middle and the duo turned the game around with a marathon 162-run partnership for the third wicket.
Sadran scored 87 off 56 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes while Rasooli scored 84 off 59 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes before being dismissed on the last delivery of the innings.
For West Indies, Matthew Forte and Jayden Seals can claim a wicket each.
Chasing a tough target of 182, West Indies could muster 143/9 in the allotted 20 overs as none of their batsmen were out big, with middle-order batsman Quentin Sampson top-scoring with 30 off 24 balls.
Apart from him, Kudakesh Moti (28), Johnson Charles (27) and Forte (25) could put up double figures against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling attack led by Ziaur Rahman, who took three wickets.
Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed and Mujeeb ur Rahman bagged two wickets each to complement Rahman’s impressive performance.
For his impressive performance and three catches, Rasuli was adjudged the man of the match.