"Crazy crazy crazy batting by Pooran" - Fans hail West Indian batter for sensational knock of 98(53) in 2024 T20 World Cup clash vs Afghanistan

West Indian batter Nicholas Pooran thrilled fans in the final group stage game of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Afghanistan at St. Lucia on June 17. The 28-year-old registered his highest T20I score with a brilliant 98 off 53 deliveries to propel the West Indies to a massive 218/5 in 20 overs.

It was the West Indies' highest-ever total in T20 World Cups and the highest thus far in the ongoing tournament.

Pooran's breathtaking knock included six boundaries and eight maximums, helping him leapfrog Chris Gayle (124) for the most sixes by a West Indian batter with 128. The southpaw became the second-leading run-scorer of the tournament thus far, with 164 runs at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 150.45 in four games.

Pooran also joined Rilee Rossouw for the fourth most maximums in an innings in T20 World Cup history with his eight sixes. He fell just two runs short of a memorable century after being run out off the fourth ball of the final over of the West Indian innings.

Fans on X (formerly Twitter) praised Pooran for another T20 batting masterclass with the following reactions:

The praises continued for Pooran, with one fan saying:

"Nicholas Pooran is the world's best t20 batsman."

"What an absolute blinder from Nicolas Pooran complete domination," said a fan.

"Crazy crazy crazy batting by Pooran," another fan tweeted.

Nicholas Pooran's heroics has West Indies in control of Afghanistan clash

Nicholas Pooran's masterful 98 took the West Indies to a total beyond Afghanistan's reach in the final group game of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The southpaw received terrific support from Johnson Charles with a 27-ball 43 and quick-fire 20s from Rovman Powell and Shai Hope.

In reply, the Afghans have stuttered to 90/7 in 13 overs at the time of writing, facing a massive defeat. Left-arm pacer Obed McCoy has been the star with the ball, boasting figures of 3/14 in three overs, while the left-arm spin duo of Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie have combined for three wickets.

The result of this contest has no bearing on the grand scheme of things, with both teams having already qualified for the Super Eights. The two teams entered the ongoing clash after winning their first three games.