Afghanistan once again outclassed West Indies by 39 runs in the 2nd T20I of three match series at Dubai. Afghanistan clinched an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against West Indies with a commanding performance in the second match. Darwish Rasooli struck his third consecutive T20I half-century, Sediqullah Atal played a steady anchoring knock.

Chasing a challenging target of 190, West Indies collapsed quickly after Mujeeb ripped through their batting line-up. Mujeeb Ur Rahman produced a maiden T20I hat-trick to seal the victory. He picked up four wickets in just five balls, spread across two overs and two spells, and finished with figures of 4/21 in 4 overs. West Indies were eventually bowled out for 150.

Rasooli shines again with Atal’s support

Rasooli carried his form from the first match, where he had smashed 84 in a big stand with Ibrahim Zadran. This time, he combined equally well with Atal after Afghanistan lost both openers inside the powerplay.

Rasooli kept the scoreboard moving with sharp square cuts, elegant off-side drives, and flat-batted shots straight down the ground. West Indies fielders offered him a few chances, which he made full use of.

He reached his fifty in just 22 balls, marking his third successive T20I half-century for Afghanistan. While Rasooli attacked, Atal stayed watchful and ensured stability at the other end.

Late hitting lifts Afghanistan to 189

Rasooli continued his assault through the middle overs, taking on Khary Pierre and Gudakesh Motie. Both Rasooli and Atal were dismissed in the 17th and 18th overs, but West Indies found no relief.

With Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai coming in, Afghanistan maintained the momentum. Motie, tasked with bowling the final over, conceded 19 runs as Omarzai struck back-to-back sixes.

Afghanistan finished on a strong 189 for 4, a total that proved far beyond West Indies’ reach.

Mujeeb dismantles the chase

West Indies never settled during their chase. They lost opener Alick Athanaze to a direct hit in the third over and managed just 29 runs in the powerplay. Fazalhaq Farooqi’s tight opening spell applied early pressure.

Mujeeb, who had already bowled two overs in the powerplay, returned in the eighth over and struck immediately. Going around the wicket, he beat Evin Lewis with a skidding delivery that struck the pad before the batter could play a shot.

When Johnson Charles came in, Mujeeb switched his angle again. Bowling over the wicket, he got the ball to drift in from outside off and sneak through the gate to hit off stump. West Indies were reduced to 38 for 3.

Hat-trick turns the game decisively

Shimron Hetmyer briefly revived West Indies’ hopes with a blistering 46 off just 17 balls, smashing six sixes and attacking Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. However, Farooqi dismissed him in the 14th over.

With 68 needed from the final five overs, Rashid brought Mujeeb back into the attack. Keeping his length slightly shorter, Mujeeb tempted the batters to go big. Brandon King, who had reached his fifty, charged down the track but miscued the hat-trick ball to long-on.

Mujeeb celebrated wildly as he became only the third Afghanistan bowler to claim a T20I hat-trick, after Rashid Khan and Karim Janat. Two balls later, debutant Quentin Sampson missed a googly completely, giving Mujeeb his fourth wicket.

The West Indies lower order failed to resist, losing their last five wickets for just 27 runs.