Janat stars as Afghanistan upset West Indies

Karim Janat came in from the cold to take a starring role Saturday as Afghanistan beat the West Indies by 41 runs to level their three-match T20I series.

The 21-year old was only a substitute in the first clash in Lucknow that the West Indies easily won.

But he took five wickets as the West Indies were restricted to 106/8 in the chase for Afghanistan's 147/7 in the second game.

Janat's 26 from 18 balls, including five fours, was also the joint-highest score for Afghanistan along with opener Hazratullah Zazai.

Afghanistan had looked on course for a bigger total but Kesrick Williams took two wickets in two balls to claim openers Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz after they put on 42.

The @windiescricket took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against @ACBofficials after winning the first game by 30 runs in Lucknow Thursday.https://t.co/w8KjZZjhc1#CRICKET #AFGHANISTAN #WESTINDIES #WESTINDIESCRICKET #AFGHANISTANCRICKET #CWI #ACB #WINDIESCRICKET

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 14, 2019

Some of Afghanistan's mid-order wickets went cheaply and with dew making bowling difficult, the West Indies captain Kieron Pollard must have thought his side's unbeaten record in the tour so far was safe.

But medium pace bowler Janat was well-supported by the other Afghan bowlers and the West Indies batsmen looked sluggish as they chased a run-rate that quickly got out of control.

The final game is also in Lucknow, where Afghanistan play their home games, Sunday. 

The West Indies beat Afghanistan 3-0 in the one-day series before the T20Is.