The Afghan side restricted the West Indies to 197-8 with an assured bowling display in the super six encounter at the Harare Sports Club.

Afghanistan, who only just qualified for the latter rounds of the tournament, withstood a West Indian fightback as they edged over the winning line.

Rahmat Shah was the main architect of the successful run chase as he hit 68 but his dismissal sparked a nervy period for his side.

After he was caught by Keemo Paul off the bowling of Ashley Nurse, Afghanistan needed 44 runs from 57 balls.

Najibullah Zadran then fell cheaply after hitting 13 from the next Nurse over but his team were handed a reprieve when Rovman Powell dropped a regulation chance from Rashid Khan.

Gulbadin Naib followed Zadran into the pavilion shortly after before Khan and Sharafuddin Ashraf held their nerve to secure victory with 14 balls to spare.

In the other super six match to take place today, Scotland produced an excellent performance with the bat to earn a comfortable win over the United Arab Emirates at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Scotland batted first and, led by an impressive knock of 114 from opener Matthew Cross, posted a formidable total of 322-6 from their 50 overs.

It was never likely to be chased down by the UAE, who were bowled out for 249 to hand Scotland a 75-run triumph.

Elsewhere, Nepal defied the ban of their cricket board by achieveing one-day international status for the first time with a six-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea at the Old Hararians Sports Club.

The win guaranteed Nepal the third one-day international place on offer after the Netherlands proved too strong for Hong Kong.

It came despite the continued suspension of the Cricket Association of Nepal, who have been deemed unfit for purpose by the International Cricket Council since 2016.

Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea have been relegated to World Cricket League Division Two and will lose their one-day international privileges.