Match Overview
The 3rd T20I of the Afghanistan v West Indies in UAE, 2026 series was a high-voltage encounter that kept cricket fans on the edge of their seats. Played on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, this crucial cricket match saw the West Indies cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team match scorecard reflect a hard-fought battle. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that initially looked promising.
However, West Indies posted a competitive total of 151/7 in their 20 overs. In response, Afghanistan fought valiantly but eventually fell short, being restricted to 136/8. West Indies won the match by 15 runs, securing a consolation victory in the series. The phenomenal bowling performance by Shamar Springer earned him the Player of the Match award, while Darwish Rasooli was named Player of the Series for his consistent contributions throughout the series.
West Indies Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King (c) | c Ziaur Rahman Sharifi b Rashid Khan | 47 | 35 | 2 | 3 | 134.29 |
| Johnson Charles (wk) | b Shahidullah Kamal | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Keacy Carty | c Ziaur Rahman Sharifi b Abdullah Ahmadzai | 10 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 52.63 |
| Justin Greaves | c Ziaur Rahman Sharifi b Abdullah Ahmadzai | 12 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Shimron Hetmyer | b Rashid Khan | 13 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 216.67 |
| Quentin Sampson | c Sediqullah Atal b Ziaur Rahman Sharifi | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Matthew Forde | c Gulbadin Naib b Ziaur Rahman Sharifi | 27 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 245.45 |
| Shamar Springer | not out | 16 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 177.78 |
| Gudakesh Motie | not out | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 4 | |||||
| Total | 151/7 | 20.0 |
West Indies Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Forde | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Khary Pierre | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Ramon Simmonds | 4 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 6.50 |
| Shamar Springer | 4 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 5.00 |
| Justin Greaves | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 |
| Gudakesh Motie | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 |
Afghanistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | c Matthew Forde b Shamar Springer | 71 | 58 | 8 | 1 | 122.41 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | c Shamar Springer b Matthew Forde | 28 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 103.70 |
| Sediqullah Atal | c Johnson Charles b Shamar Springer | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 63.64 |
| Darwish Rasooli | c Brandon King b Khary Pierre | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Mohammad Nabi | c Shamar Springer b Ramon Simmonds | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Gulbadin Naib | not out | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Rashid Khan (c) | c Khary Pierre b Shamar Springer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Shahidullah Kamal | b Shamar Springer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | run out (Hetmyer/Ramon Simmonds) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Abdullah Ahmadzai | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 9 | |||||
| Total | 136/8 | 20.0 |
Afghanistan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Ziaur Rahman Sharifi | 4 | 0 | 45 | 2 | 11.25 |
| Shahidullah Kamal | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 13.00 |
| Rashid Khan (c) | 4 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 3.25 |
| Abdullah Ahmadzai | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Gulbadin Naib | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |
West Indies Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Key Highlights & Match Analysis
Top Batting Performance: Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the standout batter for Afghanistan, playing a magnificent innings of 71 runs off 58 balls, which included 8 boundaries and a six. His aggressive approach kept Afghanistan’s hopes alive during the chase. For the West Indies, captain Brandon King provided a solid start with a well-crafted 47 runs off 35 balls, laying the foundation for their innings. Matthew Forde also contributed a rapid cameo of 27 runs off just 11 balls, injecting crucial momentum in the death overs to ensure the team crossed the 150-run mark.
Top Bowling Performance: Shamar Springer was undoubtedly the star of the show with the ball. The West Indies all-rounder delivered a spell of sheer brilliance, claiming a sensational hat-trick in the final overs. He finished with exceptional figures of 4 wickets for just 20 runs, completely dismantling the Afghan middle and lower order. For Afghanistan, Rashid Khan was the most economical bowler, giving away just 13 runs in his 4 overs and picking up 2 vital wickets to keep the opposition in check.
Turning Point of the Match: The turning point of this thrilling cricket match undoubtedly came during the death overs of the Afghan innings. With Afghanistan needing a manageable run rate and looking well-positioned to chase down the target, Shamar Springer’s hat-trick completely shifted the momentum. Removing key batters in consecutive deliveries, he broke the backbone of the Afghan batting lineup and sealed the victory for the West Indies.
Records Broken and Milestones: Shamar Springer’s hat-trick in T20Is is a remarkable achievement and will be remembered as one of the best bowling spells in the format. Furthermore, by winning this match, the West Indies successfully denied Afghanistan a 3-0 series sweep, showing great resilience after losing the first two games. Darwish Rasooli’s consistent batting throughout the series earned him the Player of the Series award, highlighting his importance to the Afghan squad.
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | West Indies Wins | Afghanistan Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
West Indies Cricket Team vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: FAQs
Q: Who won the West Indies cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team match? A: West Indies won the 3rd T20I against Afghanistan by 15 runs in Dubai.
Q: Who was the Player of the Match in the 3rd T20I? A: West Indies all-rounder Shamar Springer was named Player of the Match for his match-winning spell of 4/20, which included a sensational hat-trick.
Q: What was the match result and final score? A: West Indies scored 151/7 in their 20 overs. In reply, Afghanistan were bowled out for 136/8, resulting in a 15-run victory for the West Indies.
Q: When and where was the match played? A: The match was played on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
Q: What is the current series score between West Indies and Afghanistan? A: Afghanistan won the 3-match T20I series 2-1, having taken the first two matches before West Indies claimed a consolation victory in the final game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the West Indies cricket team vs Afghanistan national cricket team match scorecard of the 3rd T20I tells the story of a spectacular individual performance by Shamar Springer that rescued his team from a series whitewash. Despite a brilliant 71 from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s chase fell apart in the closing stages. Both teams will now shift their focus to their respective preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where they are expected to be formidable opponents.