Windies series-sweep win against UAE
West Indies clinched a four-wicket win against hosts United Arab Emirates in the third One-day International recently and completed a 3-0 series sweep.
A record half-century from only 26 balls on debut from left-hander Alick Athanaze as he cracked 9 fours and 3 sixes in the top score of 65 from 45 deliveries and equalled the record for the fastest half-century on ODI debut. The Caribbean side successfully chased 185 at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium.
This was followed by a career-best spell from Kevin Sinclair, 23, playing in his fourth ODI, set things up with a spell of four for 24 from 7.1 overs to earn Player-of-the-March award and leg-spinner Yannic Cariah supported with two for 34 from eight overs, and the UAE were bowled out for 184 in 36.1 overs after they chose to bat.
Previously in the first ODI match, Brandon King’s maiden One-Day International lifted West Indies to a comfortable seven-wicket victory in the opening game of the three-match series in the United Arab Emirates at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
In pursuit of a modest 203, West Indies produced a measured chase to overhaul their target in the 36th over, with the 28-year-old King top scoring with a run-a-ball 112 in his 23rd ODI notching a dozen fours and four sixes.
Shamarh Brooks struck 44, hitting five fours, and Johnson Charles 24, striking four fours and a six, both partnering with King in key early stands which provided the platform for the West Indies dominance.
Seamer Keemo Paul claimed three for 34 in his first ODI in nearly a year as the Caribbean side restricted the hosts to 202 all out in the 48th over.
Continuing on the second ODI match against the United Arab Emirates, opener Johnson Charles struck a robust half-century in only his second One-Day International in seven years as the West Indies clinched a series win with an uncomplicated 78-run victory.
Charles was a late inclusion in the squad as he was the replacement for Devon Thomas. He lashed 63 off just 47 deliveries hitting eight fours and three sixes in a Man-of-the-March effort as West Indies were dismissed for 306 in the final over.
He put on 129 for the first wicket with Brandon King who top scored with 64 from 70 balls, notching four fours and four sixes, while Odean Smith made 37, Keacy Carty 32 and Kavem Hodge 26 all chipped in.
In reply, UAE were limited to 228 for seven off their 50 overs with teenager Ali Naseer getting his second straight fifty with 57 from 53 deliveries and Basil Hameed 49 from 84 deliveries.
West Indies will now pack their bags and soon head to Zimbabwe, where they will play with nine other teams in the final qualification tournament for the ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 India.
The Caribbean side have been drawn in Group A along with Nepal, Netherlands, United States, and hosts Zimbabwe for the qualifiers, which runs from June 18 to July 9 in the cities of Harare and Bulawayo.
