Zadran, Rasooli Flatten Windies

News Desk 

Islamabad: Afghanistan underlined their growing maturity in T20 cricket with a comprehensive 38-run victory over the West Indies in the opening match of the series in Dubai, combining batting resilience with a controlled, incisive bowling display.

After an inauspicious start that saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz run out off the first ball, Afghanistan rebuilt through Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli, whose unbroken partnership transformed the innings. The pair absorbed early pressure before shifting gears decisively, punishing loose bowling to lift Afghanistan to an imposing 181 for 3.

Zadran anchored the innings with a fluent, unbeaten 87, while Rasooli provided sustained aggression in an 84 that showcased Afghanistan’s expanding batting depth beyond their traditional stars.

Their 162-run stand — the backbone of the innings — featured clean striking rather than reckless power, with both batters accelerating smoothly through the middle overs and cashing in at the death.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/australia-holds-upper-hand-after-thrilling-gabba-test-session/

In response, the West Indies never found the momentum required for a chase of that scale. Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s early breakthrough set the tone, and Afghanistan’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure through tight lines and frequent changes.

While Johnson Charles briefly counterattacked and a late partnership between debutant Quentin Sampson and Matthew Forde offered a flicker of resistance, wickets at regular intervals prevented any sustained surge.

Rashid Khan’s twin strikes in the middle overs effectively ended the contest, and Noor Ahmad’s late burst removed the final hopes of a West Indies comeback. Ziaur Rahman Sharifi capped the performance with figures of 3 for 36, highlighting Afghanistan’s ability to spread the workload across their attack.

The win gives Afghanistan an early advantage in the series and reinforces their evolution into a well-rounded T20 side — capable of recovering from early setbacks, building substantial totals, and defending them with discipline rather than reliance on individual brilliance alone.