West Indies star batter Nicholas Pooran rued his dismissal at 98 against Afghanistan in the Group C encounter of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Daren Stadium National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia. However, he was happy to contribute to the team’s winning total. The West Indies decimated Afghanistan in a one-sided encounter by 104 runs. Pooran was adjudged as the Player of the Match for his heroic knock of 98 runs against Afghanistan. He went onto create a flurry of records en route to his match-winning knock.
Pooran became the first West Indies batter to score 2000 T20I runs. He also broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in T20Is as he reached the tally of 128 maximums. He was also involved in Azmatullah Omarzai’s over where the bowler conceded 36 runs, the most in a single over in T20Is. However, Pooran was run-out after scoring 98 runs with a brilliant direct hit by Azmatullah.
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Pooran’s record-shattering performance
Pooran suggested that he took it upon himself to help West Indies reach a winning total of 218 runs.
“You don’t want to be on 97 (98) and get run-out, but it was all about reaching a respectable total. I assessed the conditions early on. We had a good start in the powerplay. I had to take responsibility in the middle overs with the Afghanistan spinners bowling. I just felt that it was my night and I could get on with it,” Pooran said while speaking to the broadcasters after the match.
How Pooran stitched his innings?
“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. It’s just not today, it started 12–14 months ago. We have been consistent as a team. We went to No. 3 in the rankings. In the last game, Rutherford took the opportunity and played wonderfully. He inspired us.”
Pooran helped West Indies reach their highest score in the T20 World Cups. As the Afghanistan team crumbled under scoreboard pressure and were bundled out for 114 runs.
Source Agencies
