Chase to the fore as Windies seal series win
Roston Chase came to the fore again for West Indies as they beat Afghanistan by 47 runs to claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in their ODI series.
Having starred with the bat in the opening seven-wicket win, scoring 94, Chase showed his talent with the ball as he took 3-30 from his 10 overs in Lucknow.
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That came after Shai Hope (43) and Evin Lewis (53) put on a 98-run opening partnership for the Windies, with Nicholas Pooran adding 67 down the order to take his side to 247-9.
Afghanistan came up well short in reply, succumbing for 200 to leave them facing a series whitewash with one game to go.
West Indies win by 47 runs and seal their first ODI series win since 2014!
Three wickets for Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase, and Hayden Walsh Jr. helped them defend 247 despite Najibullah Zadran's half-century.#AFGvWI https://t.co/PgJiJ9RlUD pic.twitter.com/E882Hepoq1
— ICC (@ICC) November 9, 2019
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After winning their first match under the new captain-coach partnership of Kieron Pollard and Phil Simmons last time out, the Windies looked assured from the outset on Saturday.
Hope and Lewis laid a solid platform but when they fell in consecutive overs, Afghanistan sensed an opportunity.
Indeed, there were only two other notable contributions from the Windies' batting line-up, Shimron Hetmyer making 34 to play his part.
It was Pooran who provided the most telling knock, though, as he held firm until the final over for his eye-catching 67 from 50 deliveries.
That helped guide his side to a credible total and Pooran even put in a shift at wicketkeeper when Hope went off for treatment midway through Afghanistan's reply.
It was a reply that faltered almost immediately, Javed Ahmadi out for a duck having faced only four deliveries.
The Asian nation struggled to build any momentum, with Rahmat Shah run out for a 33-run knock that soaked up 54 balls, increasing the required run rate.
Chase accounted for Hazratullah Zazai (23), Ikram Alikhil (19) and Asghar Afghan (3) to keep the Windies well on top.
West Indies are on top in Lucknow, and once again Roston Chase is the main man!
He has returned figures of 3/30 from his 10 overs, and Afghanistan need 121 from the last 20 overs with five wickets in hand.#AFGvWI https://t.co/PgJiJ9RlUD pic.twitter.com/Gf2iZQyD97
— ICC (@ICC) November 9, 2019
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Najibullah Zadran (56) and Mohammad Nabi (32) provided some lower-order resistance to extend the contest, but they fell to consecutive balls in separate overs as Afghanistan's hopes faded away.
