Well-rounded West Indies targets series win
West Indies may no longer be a tour-de-force in Tests and One-Day Internationals, but it can still turn it on in Twenty20 Internationals.
Afghanistan, who is in the West Indies for three T20Is and as many ODIs, found that out the hard way as it was on the receiving end of a strong bowling display by the Caribbean side in the first game at Warner Park.
That six-wicket loss could be a sign of how the series will pan out as Afghanistan prepares to face the same opposition twice in two days in Basseterre as it lines up for the second T20I on Sunday.
West Indies, still hurting from not making the cut for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, currently underway in England and Wales, were in fine fettle in the opening game. The bowlers were on point with Sunil Narine leading the way, and its batsmen made the run chase look easy against an inexperienced bowling attack.
It was easy to forget that this is the same Afghanistan side that forged an 11-game winning streak in T20s this year. Though all of these victories, barring one, were achieved against Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Oman, it must be noted that the last one was against West Indies in the league stages of the World Twenty20 2016.
Though the Darren Sammy-led West Indies that won World T20 2016 - its second WT20 title - was more well-rounded than the side playing the on-going series, there are several hard-hitting batsmen in the line-up. And without Mohammad Shahzad, who is serving a suspension following a positive test for a banned substance earlier this year, Afghanistan often struggles to have the firepower to match it.
Perhaps one could cut Afghanistan some slack because the pressure of facing a world champion can't be shrugged off easily.
That being said, Afghanistan is the new face of hope and expectations will increase each time its sets foot on the field. A fiercely proud bunch, it will look to put this loss behind it and see if it can give West Indies a tougher fight.
Teams (from)
**West Indies:**Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Samuel Badree, Ronsford Beaton, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton (wk), Kesrick Williams.
Afghanistan: Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Afsar Zazai, Amir Hamza, Dawlat Zadran, Fareed Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib, Javed Ahmadi, Mohammad Nabi, Shafiqullah Shafiq (wk), Nasir Jamal, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani.