West Indies showcased their dominance once again as they sealed a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash over UAE in the final ODI, even without regular skipper Shai Hope.
The Caribbean side’s victory was fueled by an exceptional four-wicket haul from Kevin Sinclair and a scintillating fifty on debut by Alick Athanaze.
Opting to bat first, UAE made a promising start but suffered a sudden collapse, losing eight wickets for just 42 runs. What seemed like a solid position of 142/2 quickly turned into a meagre total of 184 all out in 36.1 overs. Sinclair emerged as the hero for West Indies, wreaking havoc with his figures of 4 for 24 in his series debut.
At the beginning of the match, UAE seemed to have the upper hand with Vriitya Aravind and Muhammad Waseem building a strong partnership. However, Waseem’s dismissal of Raymon Reifer disrupted their rhythm. Aravind then found an ally in Rameez, but Sinclair’s introduction turned the tide in West Indies’ favor.
Sinclair struck immediately, dismissing Aravind lbw in his first over, and two run-outs added to UAE’s woes. Finally, Sinclair fittingly wrapped up the innings by getting Ali Naseer caught behind off an arm ball.
Chasing the modest target, West Indies stumbled early with the loss of Johnson Charles. However, Athanaze, in an impressive ODI debut, injected momentum into the innings.
Playing with confidence and unleashing powerful strokes, he reached a remarkable fifty off just 26 balls, equaling the record for the fastest fifty on an ODI debut. His attacking display propelled West Indies to a run rate of almost 10 runs per over.
Unfortunately, Athanaze’s dismissal while attempting a reverse sweep against Aayan Khan slowed down their scoring rate.
Shamarh Brooks and Keacy Carty made promising starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores, leaving West Indies in a precarious situation when Meiyappan took two wickets in consecutive deliveries.
However, stand-in captain Roston Chase took charge, providing stability and guiding his team to victory. He remained unbeaten until the end, ensuring West Indies clinched the win.
With an emphatic whitewash over UAE, West Indies showcased their depth and resilience, demonstrating their strength as a team. The series’ victory will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they move forward in their cricketing journey.
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