Windies stay perfect, Ferguson stars in NZ T20 farewell

Nicholas Pooran has fallen just short of the T20 World Cup's first century as West Indies overpowered Afghanistan by 104 runs in the final group match.

Pooran smashed 98 from 53 balls before he was run out in the final over in Saint Lucia on Monday as the co-hosts amassed 5-218 - the highest score of the pool stages.

And it proved too much for previously unbeaten Afghanistan, who rarely looked like challenging at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium and were shot out for 114 in the 17th over.

Despite losing Brandon King early, West Indies got off to a flying start - Azmatullah Omarzai going for 41 runs from his two overs as Johnson Charles and Pooran brought up the 100 in the eighth over.

Charles fell for 43 from 27 balls, Shai Hope (25) and captain Rovman Powell (26) keeping the momentum going alongside Pooran.

The wicketkeeper was finally out three balls from the end after crashing eight sixes and six fours.

Afghanistan's reply got off to a slow start, Rahmanullah Gurbaz falling amid eight straight dot balls to start the innings.

Ibrahim Zadran hit 38 from 28 balls and Azmatullah 23 from 19, but wickets fell regularly throughout, Obed McCoy taking 3-14.

West Indies stay in Saint Lucia for their Super Eight opener against England on Wednesday night, while Afghanistan face India in Barbados on Thursday.

Earlier on Monday in Trinidad and Tobago, an exceptional spell of bowling by Lockie Ferguson helped New Zealand sign off from the tournament with a seven-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea in their Group C dead-rubber.

Both nations were already guaranteed to miss out on the Super Eight stage after the Black Caps had suffered defeats to Afghanistan and West Indies.

Ferguson ensured they ended this World Cup with a win after he produced a record four-over spell of 3-0, which contributed towards PNG being bowled out for 78 with two deliveries of their 20 overs left.

Devon Conway then hit 35 off 32 balls in a comfortable chase to clinch a seven-wicket victory with 46 balls to spare.

"A tough wicket to bat on, nice to bowl on," Ferguson said.

"There's not many games you bowl seam up all the way through. It's sad to be leaving, we had high hopes coming in."

After a delay of more than hour due to rain at Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium, PNG were put in to bat but struggled to make any headway in an innings that featured 81 dot balls.

Ferguson did the majority of the damage on his way to a player-of-the-match display after he sent down four consecutive maidens, which included the key scalp of Charles Amini (17).

Trent Boult marked his final T20 World Cup appearance with 2-14.

With AP & Reuters.