Toby Marshall
Continuing his impressive run, Kevin Sinclair showcased his talent by taking 4 wickets for just 24 runs in the first innings. Additionally, debutant Alick Athanaze displayed maturity with the bat, scoring a remarkable 64 runs off 45 balls.
Their performances were instrumental in the West Indies’ triumph in the third and final ODI. This victory completed a clean sweep of 3-0 for the Caribbean team, providing them with valuable momentum ahead of the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifiers scheduled to commence on June 18 in Zimbabwe.
Alick Athanaze wasted no time in making an impact, launching two consecutive sixes off the left-arm finger spinner Aayan Afzal Khan. He followed it up with a flurry of fours off seamer Junaid Siddique, racing to 30 runs off just 11 balls. Alik Athanaze showcased an impressive performance, getting the record for the joint-fastest fifty on debut with a powerful four off Mustafa.
His well-struck shot emphasized his remarkable start in international cricket. Athanaze seemed set for a debut century, but his innings was cut short by Aayan, dismissing him on 65 off 45 balls.
Aayan, accompanied by wrist-spinner Karthik Meiyappan, who specializes in the wrong’un, made it challenging for the West Indies middle order to secure the win. With regular captain Shai Hope and vice-captain Brandon King rested, among other changes, the West Indies team went 81 balls without finding the boundary. However, stand-in captain Roston Chase and Keemo Paul remained composed and successfully finished the chase without any further complications.
At the beginning of the match, it seemed like UAE had the upper hand as Vriitya Aravind and Muhammad Waseem built a strong partnership at the crease. However, the team’s momentum was disrupted when Waseem was dismissed by Raymon Reifer. Aravind then found another partner in Rameez, but their fortunes took a turn with the introduction of Kevin Sinclair.
Sinclair made an immediate impact, taking the wicket of Aravind with an lbw dismissal in his very first over. Two run-outs added to UAE’s troubles, further shifting the game in favour of the opposition. In the end, it was fitting that Sinclair concluded the proceedings by getting Ali Naseer caught behind off an arm ball, sealing UAE’s fate.
Afghanistan showcased an impressive batting performance, spearheaded by Ibrahim Zadran's exceptional knock of 98 runs and Rahmat Shah's valuable contribution of 55 runs. Their efforts powered Afghanistan to a convincing 6-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, securing a crucial 1-0 lead in the series.
Sri Lanka sealed a convincing 2-1 ODI series victory against Afghanistan with a dominant display, propelled by half-centuries from their openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka. The hosts comfortably chased down the target of 120 in Hambantota, leaving them with a remarkable 34 overs to spare. Led by the outstanding performance of Dushmantha Chameera, who was named the man of the match, Sri Lanka's fast-bowling attack dismantled the struggling Afghan top order.
