Shai Hope struck six boundaries and two sixes during his knock of 77

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

West Indies batsman Shai Hope scored 77 to lead his side to a 23-run win over Afghanistan in their World Cup clash at Headingley.

Opting to bat first, the West Indies lost opener Chris Gayle, who was playing in his last World Cup match, early on as he was caught behind off the bowling of Dawlat Zadran for seven runs.

Hope and Evin Lewis made up for the loss of Gayle with an 88-run partnership, during which Lewis brought up his fifty, before he was dismissed by Rashid Khan for 58, which came off 78 balls and included six boundaries and two sixes.

Hope and Shimron Hetmyer kept their runs flowing with a 65-run stand, during which Hope registered his half-century, before Hetmyer was removed by Dawlat for 39.

Hope went on to score a 92-ball 77, which included six boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught by Rashid at deep midwicket off the bowling of Mohammad Nabi.

Nicholas Pooran and captain Jason Holder steadied things with a 105-run partnership, during which Pooran surpassed his fifty, before he was run out for a 43-ball 58, which included six boundaries and a six.

Holder was dismissed the very next ball by Sayed Shirzad for 45.

Thanks to their efforts towards the end of the innings, the West Indies finished on 311/6.

Dawlat was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Rashid, Nabi and Shirzad chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 312 to win, Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib fell on the ninth ball of the innings as he was dismissed by Kemar Roach for five runs.

Rahmat Shah and Ikram Alikhil stabilised the innings with a 133-run partnership, during which both batsmen recorded their fifties, before Rahmat was sent packing by Carlos Brathwaite for 62, which came off 78 balls and included 10 boundaries.

Ikram and Najibullah Zadran added 51 runs to the score before Ikram was trapped lbw off the bowling of Gayle for a career-best 86, which came off 93 deliveries and included eight boundaries.

Najibullah went on to make 31 before he was run out, while Nabi was removed by Roach for two runs.

Samiullah Shinwari was also dismissed by Roach, while Asghar Afghan mustered 40 runs before he was caught by Holder at long-off off the bowling of Brathwaite.

Brathwaite also took out Dawlat and Rashid before Afghanistan were bowled out for 288 when Shirzad was sent packing by Oshane Thomas for 25.

Brathwaite was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Roach took three, and Gayle and Thomas claimed one wicket each.

Hope was named Man of the Match.