Mujeeb’s Magic Seals Series Win for Afghanistan in Thrilling Clash

Mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman achieved a remarkable hat-trick as Afghanistan secured a 39-run victory over West Indies, clinching the series in their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

West Indies, having lost the first match by 38 runs, were bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs. Mujeeb, with impressive figures of four for 21, became only the third Afghan bowler to achieve a T20I hat-trick, following Rashid Khan and Karim Janat.

Earlier in the match, Darwish Rasooli scored 68 off 39 balls, following up his half-century from the first game. Sediqullah Atal contributed 53 runs to Afghanistan’s total of 189 for four, after West Indies won the toss and chose to field.

Mujeeb started his hat-trick by trapping Evin Lewis leg-before-wicket with a quicker delivery, then dismissed Johnson Charles with a beautifully delivered ball that swung into the right-hander, leading to West Indies stumbling to 38 for three in eight overs.

He completed his hat-trick during his last over at the death, first dismissing top-scorer captain Brandon King (50) at long-on, and then bowling out Quentin Sampson to finish with a four-wicket haul.

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“The strategy was to maintain simplicity and aim for the stumps,” Mujeeb explained. “I wasn’t aware of my hat-trick status, just focused on bowling in the right areas. A valuable preparation for the World Cup, this victory empowers us further.”

The series finale is scheduled for Thursday.

Shimron Hetmyer briefly threatened the target with an explosive 46 off 17 balls, including six sixes, before being caught at sweeper cover against Fazalhaq Farooqi (two for 28) while attempting another big hit.

Fast bowler Azmatullah Omarzai took two for 20, while Farooqi sealed Afghanistan’s series win by dismissing No. 11 batter Ramon Simmonds with seven balls remaining.

Afghanistan’s openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) and Ibrahim Zadran (22) fell during the Powerplay, but Rasooli and Atal’s 115-run partnership steadied the innings against both pace and spin.

Atal struck three sixes and two fours before being caught at deep square leg in Matthew Forde’s (two for 25) return spell. Rasooli was dismissed in the 18th over, failing to clear Alick Athanaze at mid-off.

Omarzai hit an unbeaten 26 off 13 balls, while spinner Gudakesh Motie recorded expensive figures of none for 54, including 19 runs in the final over.

“Hetmyer played brilliantly, but after his dismissal, it was up to me to finish the job,” King commented. “Our fielding needs improvement, but we are continuously working on it.”

Published on Jan 22, 2026