West Indian batsman Nicholas Pooran delivered a stunning performance, scoring 98 runs in just 53 balls during their T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan. His contribution helped the team set a massive target of 218 runs, ultimately leading them to an 84-run victory over their opponents. This win secured West Indies' spot in the Super Eight phase of the tournament, a feat that has thrilled fans all over the world.
Nicholas Pooran Powers West Indies to T20 World Cup Super Eight
West Indian batsman Nicholas Pooran's explosive 98-run knock against Afghanistan in the ICC T20 World Cup propelled his team to a resounding 84-run victory and secured their place in the tournament's Super Eight phase.
Background
Pooran, a 26-year-old left-handed batsman, has emerged as a key player for the West Indies in recent years. Known for his aggressive batting style and big-hitting ability, he has been a consistent performer in both domestic and international cricket.
The Match
In the crucial match against Afghanistan, Pooran came to the crease at a time when the West Indies were in need of a quick start. He responded with a blistering innings, hitting 10 fours and 5 sixes while scoring at a strike rate of 184.91.
His 98-run effort was the highest individual score by a West Indian in T20 World Cup history. It helped the team set a formidable target of 218 runs, which proved too much for Afghanistan.
Impact
Pooran's innings played a pivotal role in West Indies' victory, boosting their net run rate and securing their qualification for the Super Eight stage. The win marked a significant achievement for the team, which had endured a disappointing group stage campaign in the previous edition of the tournament.
Top 5 FAQs
Yes, Pooran has played in two previous T20 World Cups, in 2016 and 2021.
Pooran's highest T20I score is 104, which he achieved against Guyana in 2018.
In total, Pooran has scored 400 runs in T20 World Cups.
West Indies has reached the Super Eight phase of the T20 World Cup on five occasions, including this year. They have advanced to the semi-finals twice, in 2009 and 2012.
Brandon King scored 43 runs, while Hayden Walsh Jr. and Sheldon Cottrell took two wickets each for West Indies.
India’s women’s cricket team skipper, Smriti Mandhana expresses disappointment over her team’s fielding performance in the first ODI against Ireland. Despite registering a comfortable victory, Mandhana believes that the team needs to improve in the fielding department and restrict the opposition to lower scores. She also praises the bowling unit for their efforts in challenging conditions and highlights the importance of executing plans in upcoming matches.
In a dominant performance, the Indian women's cricket team defeated Ireland by six wickets in the first match of the three-match series in Rajkot. Despite being without captain Harmanpreet Kaur and bowler Renuka Singh Thakur, India showed no signs of struggle as they dismissed Ireland for just 56 runs. Medium pacer Titas Sadhu and spinner Priya Mishra were the stars of the show, taking three wickets each.
La Liga team Atletico Madrid has criticized the Spanish National Sports Council's decision to allow Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo to play on a temporary basis after his license had expired. According to the club, this government intervention sets a dangerous precedent and calls into question the rules of the game. Other clubs, including Las Palmas, have also expressed concern about how this decision could impact the integrity of the competition and destabilize professional football in Spain.
After repeated rejections by La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation, Barcelona successfully appealed to the Higher Sports Council to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. However, their registration is only valid until the CSD reaches a final decision in April, leaving the team with a limited timeline to utilize their talents in crucial matches. The stakes are high as Barcelona must secure favorable results in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League during this period, making the CSD's decision a crucial factor in their success.
The Indian women's cricket team, led by Smriti Mandhana, takes on Ireland in the first ODI of a three-match series. With the hosts coming off a series sweep against the West Indies, Mandhana and her team will look to continue their dominant form. However, Ireland's Prendergast brings valuable experience from playing in Australia and could prove to be a key player for the visitors in this highly-anticipated match.
In a thrilling match at the Kotambi Stadium, Rajasthan's opener Abhijeet Tomar's brilliant century and a five-wicket haul from Tamil Nadu's Varun Chakaravarthy made for an exciting game. Tomar's partnership with skipper Mahipal Lomror set the foundation for Rajasthan's first-ever victory over Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. They will now face Vidarbha in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Additionally, Haryana dominated Bengal with all-round performances from Parth Vats and Nishant Sandhu, securing a 72-run win.
In a thrilling match in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane led Al Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al Okhdoud at the Awwal Park in Riyadh. The two star players each scored a goal, with Mane scoring a brace and Ronaldo scoring his first goal of 2025. The win propelled Al Nassr to third place in the league table with 28 points from 14 matches. Don't miss out on the excitement, subscribe now to catch all the action.
Real Madrid secured their spot in the Supercopa final after a thrilling match against Mallorca. They will now face off against their arch-rivals Barcelona in a highly anticipated final in Jeddah. Stay tuned for updates and post-match reactions.
In a thrilling match between Real Madrid and Valencia, Vinicius Junior's red card became the main talking point. After pushing Valencia's goalkeeper and receiving a straight red, the Brazilian forward's hopes of celebrating a victory seemed dashed. However, thanks to late goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, Madrid secured a 2-1 win. Vinicius later took to social media to apologize to his teammates, while manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the club will appeal the red card. According to MARCA, the Spanish Football Federation is considering a two-game ban for Vinicius instead of the customary four-match suspension for violent conduct, as they acknowledge that he was provoked by the opposing player.
In a recent conversation with The Athletic, Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo opened up about an old compliment he received from Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar had labeled Maffeo as the "toughest defender he's faced" after a game in 2017. The 20-year-old defender sees this as a trophy and is now set to face off against another superstar, Vinicius Junior, in the upcoming Supercopa de Espana. This will be the 11th time that the two players will face each other, with a record of four wins each so far. Interestingly, Messi has never scored against Maffeo in their previous encounters.