Afghanistan batters star to open Windies T20 series

A record-breaking third-wicket stand between Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli has led Afghanistan to a 38-run win over West Indies in the first Twenty20 of their three-match series.

Zadran made a career-best unbeaten 87 off 56 balls on Monday night in Dubai and Rasooli scored 84 off 59 balls as they combined in a 162-run stand in a strong total of 3-181.

The West Indies top-order struggled against the experienced spin duo of Rashid Khan (2-19) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-29) before cameos from debutant Quentin Sampson (30) and Gudakesh Motie (28) carried them to 9-143.

The series is part of the teams' build-up for next month's T20 World Cup with West Indies yet to finalise their squad for the event to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

"As long as we are bringing our best skills to the game, it doesn't matter whether we bat first or second," Afghanistan captain Rashid said.

"As a team, we are fit and hopefully we will have a good World Cup."

West Indies made a promising start when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was run out on the first ball and captain Brandon King took a spectacular one-handed catch of Sediqullah Atal in the slips as Afghanistan slipped to 2-19 in the third over.

But Zadran and Rasooli then raised Afghanistan's highest-ever third-wicket partnership in T20s off 113 balls against some wayward West Indies bowling.

West Indies were also scrappy in the outfield and dropped at least three catches in the death overs as Zadran and Rasooli upped the ante and scored 70 runs in the last six overs. Fast bowlers Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph gave away 91 runs in their eight overs while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre (0-42) was also expensive.

West Indies stumbled to 3-42 inside the power play and then 5-50 in the ninth over before Sampson and Forde (25) combined in the best West Indies partnership of 45. Fast bowler Ziaur Rahman, who conceded 16 runs off his first four balls, then claimed two wickets in his return spell and finished with 3-36.

"We are disappointed to lose the game," West Indies skipper Brandon King said.

"We showed glimpses of good cricket but it wasn't good enough."

The next two games will be played on Wednesday on Thursday.