Shamar Springer’s hat-trick bowled West Indies to an incredible 15-run win to deny Afghanistan a series sweep in the third and final T20I at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
With Afghanistan in control and eyeing a 3-0 series win, Springer dismissed Rahmanullah Gubraz, Rashid Khan, and Shahidullah with the first three balls of the penultimate over to restrict Afghanistan to 136 for eight in pursuit of the Windies’ total of 151 for 7.
Having already won the first two matches, Afghanistan looked well on their way to another victory with Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran in an opening partnership of 72 in 10 overs.
Pacer Matthew Forde made the breakthrough by having Zadran caught by Springer for 28 off 27 balls. This made the runs seem to be a difficult task for Afghanistan.
Gurbaz eventually reached his half-century off 44 balls with a single off spinner Gudakesh Motie.
At the end of the 14th over, Afghanistan was 94 for one, needing 58 more runs from the final six overs.
Springer then accounted for Atal’s wicket with the next delivery for seven off 11 balls, and Darwish Rasooli perished for just four as Afghanistan stumbled to 107 for three after 16 overs.
Mohammad Nabi hit Ramon Simmonds for a six, but perished in the very next ball.
Gurbaz was dismissed by Springer in the first ball of the 19th over, with Forde taking an athletic juggling catch on the boundary ropes.
With his next ball, Springer had captain Rashid Khan expertly caught by Pierre. He completed the milestone by hitting Shahidullah’s off stump. Afghanistan collapsed to 127 for seven.
Afghanistan required 20 runs off the last over. Ramon Simmonds delivered an exceptional six balls. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was run out, and Simmonds conceded just four runs.
Player-of-the-Match Springer ended with figures of 4-20 from his four overs.
Earlier, captain Brandon King top-scored with 47 and, with support from Forde, made 27 from just 11 deliveries, while Springer scored an unbeaten 16 off 9 balls.
As usual, the Windies struggled to get going and reached 43 for one after six overs for the loss of Johnson Charles for a run-a-ball 17.
Keacy Carty (10 runs off 19 balls), Justin Greaves (12 runs off 15 balls), and Quentin Sampson (three from seven balls) all struggled, with the Windies only reaching the 100-mark at the end of the 15th over.
It took some hearty hits from Forde and Springer to get the Windies up to their eventual total.
Khan (2-13), Abdollah Ahmadzai (2-30), and Ziaur Rahman (2-45) each took two wickets for Bangladesh.
