West Indians made history on Sunday as they won both the World T20 and the Women’s World T20 titles. This was the second world cup won by the West Indian team and the first one by the Caribbean women’s team.
Samuel Brathwaite struck four consecutive sixes in a stunning last-over assault against England to power West Indies to an unprecedented second World Twenty20 title with a four-wicket victory.
Marlon Samuels (85 off 66 balls) anchored the innings to help the Caribbeans recover from an early setback in their chase of 156 to an improbable win the final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
England struck with late wickets as West Indies needed 19 off the last over. Brathwaite then struck four sixes in the first four balls of the last over to seal the historic victory.
Asked to bat first, Joe Root hit a fluent 54 to help England post 155 for 9.
Ear;ier, half-centuries from Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor powered West Indies to their first women’s World Twenty20 title on Sunday, their eight-wicket win at Eden Gardens ending three-times defending champions Australia’s dominance in the tournament.
Matthews (66) and captain Taylor (59) added 120 for their opening stand as West Indies chased down a 148-run target with three balls to spare for their first win against the Southern Stars in nine attempts in World Twenty20.
Deandra Dottin, who took two wickets for 33, remained unbeaten on 18 to see West Indies through and spark wild celebrations among her team mates who were joined by several members of the men’s side in a celebratory dance.
“We didn’t get the start we wanted. In the first three overs we only scored three runs but it was good to keep wickets in hand,” Taylor, who was named player of the tournament, told reporters.
“We just said: ‘We could do this, just stay here and bat through’.
“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in as yet. We have a good feeling right now but I think when it really hits us that’s when we will know.”
Australia’s Elyse Villani and captain Meg Lanning had both hit 52 and added 77 for the second wicket to take their side to 148 for five after they won the toss and opted to bat.
Dottin gave away just one run in the final over which according to Lanning was a crucial moment in the match.
“It was certainly a pivotal moment I guess,” Lanning said. “I think we needed 160-plus on that wicket and we certainly set ourselves up to get to that mark.
“We just probably slowed a little bit towards the end including that final over. That probably gave the West Indies a little bit of momentum heading into their batting innings.” – Agencies
