West Indies women end Australian reign

 When it comes to celebration, few can match the West Indies team. If Chris Gayle’s Gangnam dance became the rage during their victorious 2012 campaign in Sri Lanka, DJ (Dwayne) Bravo’s Champion song has caught the fancy this time.

The West Indies’ men’s cricketers may have made these celebrations a spectacle themselves, but their women’s team members showed they aren’t far behind. As Britney Cooper and Deandra Dottin scampered for two in the final over to seal their maiden World T20 title, the entire team broke into Champion dance as the speakers blared the catchy song.

West Indies’ men’s team members, who took on England later, had arrived just in time to see their women compatriots script history, ending Australia’s bid to win a fourth-straight crown.

Skipper Darren Sammy, men’s team’s bowling coach Curtly Ambrose, all-rounder Andre Russell and Bravo ran on to the ground to join the women’s team in their moment of glory. They hugged, hi-fived, danced, crooned and drew a sizable section of the crowd in the stands to groove along with them. The Kolkatans were slowly trickling into the Eden Gardens late Sunday afternoon, hoping for a run fest in the men’s final. The crowd, numbering roughly about 15000, got a sneak peak of what could be in store when the West Indies made short work of Australia’s competitive 148/5 to wear the crown here.

Powered by player of the match Hayley Mathews’ 45-ball-66 (6x4, 3x6) and player of the tournament Stafanie Taylor (59, 57b, 6x4), who added 120 runs for the opening wicket, West Indies’ women replied with 149 for two with three deliveries left in their chase.

Australia, who opted to bat first on a good batting surface, appeared well control of the match after posting what appeared a winning total, riding opener Elyse Villani’s 52 (37b, 9x4) and skipper Meg Lanning’s 52 (49b, 8x4).

West Indies’ chase appeared lacklustre as they managed just 19 from the first four overs but Hayley and Taylor upped the ante in the sixth over, which went for 16 runs. Without taking undue risk the batswomen chipped away at the target.

The celebrations continued much later as they danced away at the trophy presentation.

Briefs scores: Australia: 148/5 in 20 overs (Elyse Villani 52, Meg Lanning 52, Ellyse Perry 28; Deandra Dottin 2-33) lt to West Indies: 149/2 in 19.3 overs (Hayley Maththews 66, Stafanie Taylor 59).