Windies men, women are World T20 champs

Caribbeans storm to unique double at Kolkata

There is many a slip between cup and lip and England realised it the hard way.

There was never a doubt about the fire-power in West Indies’ batting line-up but smacking 19 in the final over of a World T20 with six wickets already down, wasn’t going to be easy even for them. Chasing England’s 155 for nine, the Caribbeans had struggled their way to 137 for six in 19 overs.

Man of the match Marlon Samuels (85 n.o., 66b, 9x4, 2x6) was hitting the ball as hard and as long as he ever has but he was at non-striker’s end. Carlos Brathwaite is an acknowledged big hitter of the ball but lack of big-match experience went against him. With just seven T20 internationals before this match, Brathwaite backed his abilities and dispatched Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes to seal the deal in West Indies’ favour. It was a cool finish that had the chilling effect on England.

The four-wicket win gave Windies their second World T20 title and doubling their joy was the triumph of their women’s team over Australia earlier in the day. West Windies women -- who stayed back for the men’s final and celebrated the twin wins in their inimitable, infectious style -- were the first time finalists and ended Australia’s three-title winning streak. Earlier this year, the West Indies colts had won the U-19 World Cup, making it a memorable last few months for them.

What at the start of the West Indies’ innings appeared a fairly simple chase assumed gargantuan proportions as England made quick in-roads. With not much on the board to defend, Eoin Morgan had to come up with something different and introduced Root in the second over. Root had bowled just one over in the tournament and had gone for 13 runs against South Africa but on the day, he struck two in three balls – the in-form Johnson Charles and the dangerous Chris Gayle.

From two for five West Indies became three for 11 when David Willey trapped Lendl Simmons with the first ball. From then onwards, England maintained an upper-hand despite Samuels’ staying firm but all it took to change the course of the match was one giant of a batsman, a nervous bowler, four balls and four sixes. Indeed a champion side!