Afghanistan Vs West Indies Highlights, 3rd T20I: Springer Hat-Trick Powers Windies' 13-Run Win

Greetings, we’re back with another live blog as Afghanistan take on West Indies. Stay tuned for live updates.

The third T20I between Afghanistan and West Indies will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website in India. However, the match will not be televised live on any TV channel in India.

Afghanistan have won the toss and have opted to field first against West Indies.

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Abdullah Ahmadzai

West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King(c), Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Quentin Sampson, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Khary Pierre, Shamar Springer, Gudakesh Motie, Ramon Simmonds

Mujeeb leads the bowling attack, ready to test Brandon King and Charles right from the first ball. The field’s set, the crowd’s buzzing, and you can feel the energy as the game kicks off at Dubai.

First wicket! Shahidullah makes Charles pay for that risky shot, bowled clean. Charles tried to play it through the off-side, but he left his stumps wide open, and Shahidullah didn’t miss a beat.

The ball skids off a good length, sneaks under the bat, and knocks the bails off. Charles departs for 17 off 17, with a four and a six, and just like that, Afghanistan strikes first at Dubai!

Ah, that’s better from the Windies! Abdullah Ahmadzai goes full and quick at 137.8 kph, but Brandon King is right on it, leans into the drive, threads it past mid-off and watches it race away. The fielder gives it a full chase, but there’s no stopping that, FOUR more, and King is up and running in style.

Nabi floats one in and almost sneaks through! Brandon King looks to whip it off his pads, misses completely, and it just brushes the pad before trickling into the on-side, no damage, no run, but that had LBW shout written all over it for a second.

Ball before, Justin Greaves gets off strike, Nabi tosses it up on middle, Greaves leans in and punches it calmly down to long-on. Just the single, but West Indies keep the board ticking along.

Oh, that’s a gift and Afghanistan will take it every day. Abdullah Ahmadzai bangs it in short, it climbs awkwardly on Justin Greaves and the pull shot completely betrays him. He’s cramped, he’s late, and all he manages is a massive top-edge that goes straight up in the night sky. Ziaur Rahman Sharifi settles under it at deep mid-wicket, no trouble at all, and snaffles it safely.

Greaves is gone for 12 off 15, and just like that, West Indies lose another one, Afghanistan tightening the grip in Dubai.

Rashid Khan does Rashid Khan things, and Hetmyer has no answer! Fired in on leg stump, quick and flat, and Hetmyer goes searching for the flick after shuffling miles across. Big swing, big miss, and the leg stump is left standing all alone. Timber.

Hetmyer just freezes, staring back at the wreckage, two sixes earlier and now gone for 13 off 6. West Indies were flying not long ago, but suddenly the wheels are wobbling, Afghanistan right on top in Dubai now.

West Indies finish on 151, and Afghanistan will be pleased with their bowling and fielding. Brandon King fought hard with 47 off 34, but support was thin, Charles made 17, Kaecy Carty 10, and Hetmyer’s brief fireworks couldn’t stop the slide from 85 for 2 to 122 for 6.

Late hitting from Matthew Forde (27) and Shamar Springer (16) lifted the total, leaving Afghanistan 152 to chase for a 3-0 sweep. After chasing 181 and 189 in the first two games, can they do it again tonight?

Afghanistan are off the chase! Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are at the crease, and it’s Gurbaz on strike. Matthew Forde opens the attack for West Indies, starting with Ibrahim Zadran, no run there, as he stands tall and blocks the delivery. The over goes for 16 runs, and the chase is already heating up at Dubai.

Gurbaz goes big straight away, Khary Pierre floats one at 91.4 kph, an arm ball that drifts in, but Gurbaz leans across, plants the bottom hand just right, and sends it sailing over deep extra cover. That’s a massive SIX to get Afghanistan off to a flying start.

Oh, that should’ve been a big wicket! Simmonds fires in a short one, Ibrahim Zadran rocks back and pulls, but it’s not cleanly timed. Shamar Springer leaps at midwicket for an overhead catch, and it slips right through his fingers! Two runs sneak through, and Zadran lives to fight another ball. Afghanistan are rubbing their hands, and the chase keeps ticking.

Ibrahim Zadran keeps the scoreboard moving! Motie pitches one up on the pads, and Zadran flicks it neatly through square leg for a couple of runs.

On the very next ball, Zadran shimmies down to drive hard, but Motie’s alert, stretches out his left hand and stops it dead. Smart fielding, but Zadran is keeping the pressure on with steady running.

Time for a quick breather, drinks on the field! Afghanistan have gotten off to a steady start, 10 wickets in hand and an asking rate of 8 an over. They’re firmly in the driver’s seat, and the chase is very much alive here in Dubai.

Forde fires one full and wide of off, and Gurbaz leans into the drive. The bottom hand comes off the bat, but he still carves it beautifully over point for a single, just easing Afghanistan along in this chase.

Sediqullah Atal nicks a short ball to the 'keeper and Afghanistan lose their second wicket at a crucial juncture. A bigger scare follows for the Afghans as a throw bounces off the pitch and smacks Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the face. The match comes to a halt with concerned looks all around. Thankfully, he eventually seems fine and even hits the last ball of the over for a boundary. Afghanistan need 49 off 30 balls.

Darwish Rasooli (4) and Mohammad Nabi (6) fall cheaply, but Rahmanullah Gurbaz continues to hold strong at one end. The equation is 25 runs off 12 balls. Last-over thriller loading?

What a turnaround! The Afghans go from 127 for 4 to 132 for 8, courtesy Shamar Springer's 19th-over hat-trick. He gets rid of the well-set Gurbaz (71), dangerman Rashid Khan and Shahidullah off successive deliveries to quell the Afghanistan chase. The Windies end up winning the match by 13 runs, clinching their maiden victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

That’s a wrap for now, we’ll be back with another live blog soon. Until then, bye-bye and take care.