DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) — Led by a superb, record-breaking performance by Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli, Afghanistan romped to a comprehensive, 38-run victory over an out of sorts West Indies in their opening Twenty20 International (T20I) match on Monday.

Zadran scored an unbeaten 87 off 56 balls while Player of the Match Rasooli slammed 84 from 59 balls to lead Afghanistan to a competitive 181 for three in their 20 overs, after they elected to bat first at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

And they were ably assisted by the West Indies who dropped chances three times in the space of two overs in a forgettable fielding display.

The Windies then followed that up with an equally shoddy display with the bat, slumping to 50 for five before eventually ending their innings on 143 for nine.

It was a far cry from the manner in which they started the match, with the visitors producing two brilliant fielding efforts to put Afghanistan on the backfoot.

Jayden Seales’ first ball of the match brought immediate success for the Windies, with Gudakesh Motie’s sensational direct throw from mid-on finding Rahmanullah Gurbaz well short of his ground at the non-striker’s end as he attempted a quick single.

Captain Brandon King then leapt into the air to pull off a stunning, one-handed catch at first slip to dismiss Sediqullah Atal for just two, to see Afghanistan slip to 19 for two in the third over.

His dismissal brought Rasooli to the crease, and for the next 17 and a half overs the pair tormented the West Indies’ bowlers during a partnership of 162 runs – Afghanistan’s second highest in T20Is and the fifth highest ever for the third wicket in all T20Is.