West Indies give glimpse of future after Gayle departs
By Tim Wigmore
West Indies 311-6 bt Afghanistan 288 by 23 runs When the West Indies fast bowlers eviscerated Pakistan’s batting in their opening World Cup game, bundling them out for 105, it seemed inconceivable that they would have to wait 34 days, until their final game, for their next win.
But the whole month of June passed without a West Indies victory. Finally, that changed on a jaunty day here, when Afghanistan’s attempts to depart the 2019 World Cup with their own first win ended in a 23-run defeat.
The game began and ended feeling almost akin to a Chris Gayle testimonial. He was first onto the field, when he came out to bat, and then led West Indies off – thanks for his career’s work in the World Cup far more than his useful return of one for 28 from six overs. Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib bowed to Gayle.
But what happened in between contained encouraging portents for the West Indies future. In the 2023 World Cup, Shimron Hetmyer will be 26, Nicholas Pooran 27, and Shai Hope 29. All should be even better than in this tournament, when they were still the West Indies top three run-scorers.
While Hope, who made a serene 77, was named man of the match against Afghanistan, he would be disappointed with recording only three half-centuries in the competition, given his regal form leading into the tournament.
But Pooran has been among the breakout stars, averaging over 50, scoring at over a run a ball and doing it all with a dazzling style.
Hetmyer, who smote his fourth ball over long off for six, has been almost as dazzling, even if his contributions have been more fleeting. With Evin Lewis – who showcased his power in his 58 – only 27, and Sherfane Rutherford, a Guyanese batsman in Hetymer’s mould, just 20, West Indies have an abundance of emerging batting prowess.
That was needed, with Afghanistan producing their best batting display of the tournament. The stylish Ikram Ali Khil made 86, the highest World Cup score by a player under 19, justifying his promotion from No 9 to No 3.
But a combination of poor preparation, internal political wrangling and a lack of fixtures – Afghanistan played just 12 ODIS against the other teams to make the World Cup in the preceding four years – meant they did not show the best of themselves in the tournament.