Russell grabs five in one-run WI win

Devon Thomas and Danza Hyatt hit half-centuries after André Russell warmed up for higher-intensity battles in Bangladesh with a workmanlike spell to limp West Indies to a five-wicket victory over ICC Associate side Afghanistan in a one-day match yesterday.

Thomas is in Dubai with the High Performance Centre and is not scheduled to travel to Dhaka, but he hit the top score of 58, and Hyatt made 53, as West Indies successfully chased 250 for victory with just one ball remaining in a match at the ICC Global Cricket Academy that brought the curtain down on the Carib-Asian Series.

Carlos Brathwaite supported with 40, Kieran Powell got 37, Marlon Samuels gathered 21, and West Indies captain Darren Sammy was not out on 20 in the Caribbean side's final workout during brief stay their before travelling to Bangladesh.

Man-of-the-Match Russell's star continued to shine when he collected five wickets for 46 runs from nine overs to be the pick of the West Indies' bowlers, and Kemar Roach snapped up two for 38 from nine overs as Afghanistan posted 249 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs.

West Indies, however, faced stiff resistance from the Afghani batsmen, with Nowroz Mangal leading the way with 97, Jawed Ahmedi scored 50, Mohammed Shahzad 37 and Karim Sadiq 28.

West Indies leave today for Bangladesh where they face the hosts in a Twenty20 and three one-day internationals as well as two Tests.