In the qualifier match, Afghanistan gave Caribbean a hint of the struggle that could be in store for them in their bid to reach the 2019 World Cup, after battling back from the brink of a crushing defeat to pull off a remarkable victory in their warm-up encounter in Harare, ahead of next week's ICC World Cup Qualifiers. Afghanistan won by 29 runs (D/L method). The two teams are among the favorites to claim the final two spots for next year's tournament held in England, but for West Indies, who was two-time world champions in 1975 and 1979, failure to progress would be a particularly disgraceful moment in their history.

After winning the toss and choosing to field first, West Indies appeared to have the contest in their pocket after reducing Afghanistan to 71 runs for loss of 8 wickets in 23 overs. Without their skipper, Asghar Stanikzai, who has been hospitalized with inflammation, Afghanistan appeared rudderless as the left-arm seamer, Sheldon Cottrell, set the tone with a couple of wicket in the first five overs of the match.

But Afghanistan's spirit is redoubtable at the best of times, and when Samiullah Shenwari and Gulbadin Naib came together in a ninth-wicket stand of 91 runs in 11.5 overs, Afghanistan found themselves back in the contest. Afghanistan scored 163 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 35 overs. Gulbadin Naib at No. 10 for Afghanistan was the top scorer with 48 runs. SS Cottrell was the pick of the bowler for West Indies as he captured three wickets. West Indies was bowled out for 110 in just 26.4 overs.