Pooran says Rutherford’s knock against New Zealand inspired Afghan whip performance

Nicholas Pooran starred as West Indies secured a decisive victory in their final group match of the T20 World Cup, beating Afghanistan by 104 runs in St Lucia on Monday.

Both teams had already qualified for the Super 8s, but the West Indies ensured they finished undefeated in Group C, breaking a few records in the process.

Afghanistan had no answer to the co-hosts’ dominant batting performance, with Johnson Charles collecting 43 from 27 balls before Pooran plundered 98 from 53 balls, including six fours and eight sixes.

He was knocked out in the final while chasing his century, but Shai Hope (25) and Rovman Powell (26) had already helped push West Insides to the highest total of the tournament so far with 218- 5.

West Indies didn’t slow down during the run chase in Afghanistan, starting strongly when Akeal Hosein had Rashid Khan caught for a duck in a wicket to begin with.

Obed McCoy stood out, however, as he took 3-14, including Ibrahim Zadran, who was starting to gain some momentum with his 38, leaving Afghanistan at 114 with 22 balls remaining.

West Indies will meet holders England in their first Super 8 match on Wednesday, while Afghanistan take on India the following day.

Data debrief: West Indies finish group in record style

West Indies’ score of 218 was their highest ever in the T20 World Cup, while they also recorded the highest powerplay score with 92, breaking Netherlands’ record of 91 against the Ireland in 2014.

In the fourth over alone, they scored 36 runs, equaling the record for the most expansive over in men’s T20s.

Pooran has scored the most sixes in the tournament so far (13, along with American Aaron Jones), and broke the record for the most sixes (128) in T20s for the West Indies, surpassing the 124 by Chris Gayle.

His total of 98 was also the highest individual total in this World Cup, taking him past 2000 runs in T20Is.

All in all, it’s not a bad day for the West Indies.