🧨 Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s Hat-Trick Powers Afghanistan to Series-Winning Victory Over West Indies in Dubai
🇦🇫 Mujeeb Magic, Afghan Might: How Afghanistan Outplayed West Indies to Seal the T20I Series in Dubai 🌪️
Cricket history is often shaped by moments of brilliance — a spell, an innings, or a tactical call that tilts the balance forever. On a warm January night at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan didn’t just win a match; they sent a powerful message to world cricket.
At the heart of it all stood Mujeeb Ur Rahman, calm, deadly, and devastating. His hat-trick ripped through West Indies’ chase, turning a competitive contest into a commanding 39-run victory that sealed a 2–0 series win for Afghanistan.
But this was not just about a hat-trick. This was about Afghanistan’s evolution, their growing tactical maturity, fearless batting, disciplined bowling, and the quiet confidence of a team that now expects to beat full-member nations, not hopes to.
This blog dissects the match ball by ball, phase by phase, and explores what this result means for both teams — with deep Cricketory-style insights, expert analysis, and future implications.
🏟️ Match Overview: Afghanistan vs West Indies, 2nd T20I – Dubai 🌙
- Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
- Date: January 21, 2026
- Result: Afghanistan won by 39 runs
- Series: Afghanistan lead 2–0 (Series won)
- Player of the Match: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (4/21, Hat-Trick)
🚀 Afghanistan’s Innings (189/4): From Collapse to Command
⚠️ Early Trouble: A Shaky Start
Afghanistan’s innings didn’t begin smoothly.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell cheaply for 1
- Ibrahim Zadran showed intent but departed for 22
- Score: 37/2 inside 5 overs
At this point, West Indies had reason to believe. The pitch offered grip, the new ball was holding up, and Afghanistan were wobbling.
Then came the turning point.
🧠 The Atal–Rasooli Partnership: Afghanistan’s Tactical Masterclass
🧱 Sediqullah Atal – The Anchor with Intent
Atal played the role Afghanistan have long searched for — a batter who can absorb pressure without killing momentum.
- 53 off 42 balls
- Strike rotation against spin
- Selective aggression against pace
He didn’t rush. He didn’t freeze. He controlled the tempo, allowing his partner to attack freely.
💥 Darwish Rasooli – The Game Changer
If Atal built the platform, Darwish Rasooli detonated it.
- 68 off 39 balls
- Strike Rate: 174.35
- Clean hitting, fearless footwork, ruthless intent
Rasooli targeted the straight boundaries, neutralized West Indies’ slower bowlers, and punished anything marginally off-length.
🔍 Cricketory Insight:
Rasooli’s innings wasn’t reckless power-hitting — it was situational domination. He waited for matchups, forced captains into defensive fields, and shattered West Indies’ middle-overs plans.
🤝 The Numbers That Defined the Match
- 117-run partnership for the 3rd wicket
- Took Afghanistan from 37/2 to 152/2
- Match-defining stand
Once that partnership was broken, the damage was already irreversible.
🔥 Finishing Touch: Omarzai & Nabi Close Ruthlessly
- Azmatullah Omarzai: 26* off 13 (SR 200)
- Mohammad Nabi: Calm support, smart placement
Afghanistan finished at 189/4, a total that looked 20 runs above par on a slowing surface.
🎯 West Indies’ Bowling: Flashes Without Control
- Matthew Forde: 2/25 (excellent control)
- Others leaked runs under pressure
- Spinners struggled with consistency
West Indies’ bowling lacked variation under stress, and Afghanistan exploited it.
🔄 The Chase Begins: West Indies Under Pressure Early
Chasing 190 was never going to be easy, but West Indies made it harder for themselves.
❌ Powerplay Disaster
- 29 runs in powerplay
- Early wickets
- Momentum completely lost
🌪️ Enter Mujeeb Ur Rahman: The Silent Assassin
Mujeeb doesn’t roar. He doesn’t stare down batters.
He simply destroys plans.
🧨 The Hat-Trick That Broke the Match
- Evin Lewis – trapped LBW
- Johnson Charles – bowled first ball
- Brandon King – dismissed immediately on return
Hat-tricks are rare. Hat-tricks that kill hope are rarer.
Mujeeb finished with:
- 4 overs
- 4 wickets
- 21 runs
- Economy: 5.25
🔍 Cricketory Insight:
Mujeeb’s brilliance lies in deception, not speed. His subtle changes in pace and trajectory force batters into premeditated mistakes — a nightmare on slow UAE pitches.
🔥 West Indies’ Lone Resistance: Brandon King & Hetmyer
👑 Brandon King – The Captain’s Fight
- 50 off 41 balls
- Held one end together
- Tried to manage risk
But T20 cricket doesn’t reward solo resistance when required rate keeps climbing.
💣 Shimron Hetmyer – Fire Without Control
- 46 off 17 balls
- Six sixes, breathtaking hitting
Yet once Hetmyer fell, the innings collapsed like a house of cards.
📉 Collapse Mode Activated
After King’s dismissal:
- 5 wickets fell for 28 runs
- Innings folded at 150 in 18.5 overs
Afghanistan’s bowling discipline suffocated West Indies completely.
🧠 Afghanistan’s Bowling Unit: Collective Brilliance
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman: 4/21
- Azmatullah Omarzai: 2 wickets
- Fazalhaq Farooqi: Key breakthroughs
- Rashid Khan: Economy under 5
This wasn’t chaos. This was structure, roles, and execution.
🏆 What This Win Means for Afghanistan 🌍
🚀 A Team That Belongs at the Top Table
Afghanistan are no longer a “dangerous outsider”.
They are:
- Tactically sharp
- Mentally strong
- Fearless under pressure
They now expect to win bilateral series.
🔮 ICC Tournaments Warning Shot
On UAE and Asian pitches, Afghanistan are arguably top-three contenders.
Their spin depth, batting maturity, and adaptability make them a serious threat.
😟 What Went Wrong for West Indies?
❌ Tactical Confusion
❌ Poor Powerplay Batting
❌ Inability to Handle Quality Spin
West Indies’ aggressive philosophy needs contextual adjustment, especially on slower surfaces.
📊 Match Score Summary 📋
Afghanistan: 189/4 (20 overs)
West Indies: 150 all out (18.5 overs)
Result: Afghanistan won by 39 runs
Series: Afghanistan lead 2–0
🧠 Cricketory Deep Analysis 🧠
🔍 Why Afghanistan Dominated
- Won middle overs decisively
- Controlled run rate phases
- Used bowlers based on matchup, not reputation
🔍 Why West Indies Failed
- No plan against off-spin
- Over-reliance on individual brilliance
- Poor shot selection under pressure
🔮 What to Expect in the Final T20I?
- West Indies likely to rotate squad
- Afghanistan may test bench strength
- Expect spin to dominate again
Momentum firmly with Afghanistan.
❓ FAQs: Afghanistan vs West Indies Live 2nd T20I
❓ Who took the hat-trick in the match?
A: Mujeeb Ur Rahman took a sensational hat-trick for Afghanistan.
❓ Who won Player of the Match?
A: Mujeeb Ur Rahman for his 4/21 spell.
❓ How many runs did Darwish Rasooli score?
A: He scored 68 off 39 balls.
❓ Has Afghanistan won the series?
A: Yes, Afghanistan lead 2–0, clinching the series.
❓ Where was the match played?
A: Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
🏁 Final Verdict 🏁
This wasn’t just a win.
This was a statement.
Afghanistan out-thought, outplayed, and outclassed West Indies — proving once again that modern cricket rewards skill, intelligence, and belief, not reputation.
And at the center of it all stood Mujeeb Ur Rahman — calm, lethal, unforgettable.