NAIL-BITING, HEART-STOPPING, JAW-DROPPING T20 CRICKET FINALE! : Jamaicans inspire West Indies to T20 World titles in KOLKATA, India... 4 consecutive sixes in the final over by Brathwaite provided the clincher

Monday, April 04, 2016   

KOLKATA, India (CMC) — Carlos Brathwaite calmly belted four astonishing sixes off the first four deliveries of the final over to catapult West Indies to extraordinary four-wicket victory over England as the Caribbean made history by sweeping both the men’s and women’s titles at the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup here yesterday.

West Indies players led by captain Darren Sammy (centre)
 run onto the pitch as they celebrate their victory over England.

With West Indies requiring a difficult 19 from the final over in pursuit of 156 for victory at Eden Gardens, the right-handed Brathwaite cleared the ropes four times in succession off seamer Ben Stokes to hand West Indies a spectacular victory with two balls to spare.

Brathwaite finished on 34 not out from just 10 deliveries, but it was veteran right-hander Marlon Samuels, who stroked an unbeaten 85 from 66 balls, who was the architect of the victory.

The languid Jamaican, adjudged Man-of-the-Match, smashed nine fours and two sixes, anchoring two crucial stands — first with Dwayne Bravo (24) and then with Brathwaite — to pull West Indies around from 11 for three in the third over. They lost both openers Johnson Charles (one) and Chris Gayle (four) in the second over to off-spinner Joe Root and when semi-final hero Lendl Simmons fell to a first ball ‘duck’ in the following over, the Windies were up against the ropes.

But Samuels posted 75 for the fourth wicket with Bravo, who struck a four and a six off 27 deliveries, and then 54 for the seventh wicket with the outstanding Brathwaite who counted a four and four sixes.

West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite (right) and teammate
 Marlon Samuels celebrate after the victory.

Earlier, Brathwaite and Bravo had also starred with the ball, taking three wickets apiece as England were restricted to 155 for nine off their 20 overs after they were sent in.

Root top-scored with 54 and Jos Buttler got 36, but Brathwaite (3-23) and Bravo (3-37), along with leg-spinner Samuel Badree (2-16), grabbed wickets at key points to cripple the England innings.

The victory ensured a sweep of both T20 World Cup titles after West Indies Women upset three-time defending champions Australia by eight wickets at the same venue earlier.

With the triumph, the men’s side became the first nation to win the T20 World Cup twice, following on from their success in Sri Lanka five years ago. more