POORAN AND MCCOY POWER WEST INDIES TO BIG WIN OVER AFGHANISTAN

Durban's Super Giants superstar Nicholas Pooran lit up the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground on Monday evening to close out the ICC T20 World Cup group stages in St Lucia.

Pooran, who surpassed the legendary Chris “Universe Boss” Gayle as the West Indies’ leading T20 run-scorer in the previous match, blasted 98 off 53 balls (6x4, 8x6) to power the Windies to 218/5 against Afghanistan.

The dashing left-hander won his personal duel with former MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan as he blitzed the leg-spinner for 37 off only 16 deliveries.

“In the West Indies people want fours and sixes, but you can't do that every time, but when conditions allow, you should capitalise,” Pooran said.

 “I had to take the responsibility in the middle overs with the Afghanistan spinners bowling. I just felt that it’s my night and I could get on with it. 

 “It’s difficult to strike the ball when it’s a little slow and spinning, but when you get a good wicket like this, you got to capitalise, got to appreciate the conditions.”

Pooran had greater respect for his DSG teammate Noor Ahmad with the leg-spinner returning the respectable figures of 0/20 from his four overs.

“Obviously, Noor Ahmad has bowled well to me in the past as well. Some people might criticise me for not probably putting him under some pressure but T20 is a game that obviously you have to be smart as well,” Pooran said.

“You can't bat an entire innings at a 180 strike rate, it just doesn't work like that. I still feel like we have to play the game the right way and respect the game and respect the opposition as well and it was one of the opportunities for me to respect the bowlers.”

Afghanistan’s reply never quite managed to gain momentum with Paarl Royals seamer Obed McCoy running through the Afghan middle-order with figures of 3/14.

Afghanistan, who had entered the contest unbeaten after three matches, only managed 114 to lose by 104 runs.

“We spoke about who we are playing and what conditions we're playing and I just felt like everyone is doing their jobs," Pooran said.

“We spoke about obviously being better in the field and in the bowling department as well, coming into this World Cup. Everyone has stepped up. Akeal [Hosein] has been brilliant in the Powerplay, [Gudakesh] Motie outside the Powerplay. [Andre] Russell, Alzarri [Joseph], even Obed coming in today, getting an opportunity and doing well. I just think that we are going from strength to strength and that's really important at this stage of the tournament.”

The Windies progress to the Super Eight phase where they are grouped with defending champions England, South Africa and the USA in Group B.

Group A consists of India, Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Each team will play every other team in its group once, with the top two sides in each group qualifying for the semi-finals, to be played in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana on 26 and 27 June, respectively.

The Super Eight stage commences in Antigua on Wednesday 19 June with a clash between USA and South Africa at 4:30pm (SA time).

That same evening West Indies take on old rivals, England in Saint Lucia. The two sides have a prolific cricketing history, with the co-hosts ensuring a dominant display at home against England in recent years.

Main image: ICC/Getty