Brathwaite powers Windies to 2nd World T20 title

West Indies women lift maiden WT20 trophy by beating Australia

KOLKATA: West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite smashed England’s Ben Stokes for four successive sixes to snatch a sensational four-wicket win in Sunday’s World Twenty20 final as the Caribbean side became the first team to win the title twice. Meanwhile, the West Indieswomen team also defeated three-time defending champions Australia for the first time in a T20 international by pulling off the second highest chase in the tournament’s history. 

Needing 19 off the last over sent down by Stokes, Brathwaite exhibited nerves of steel to complete the chase in stunning style and trigger wild celebrations amongst his jubilant team mates who invaded the Eden Gardens pitch. “We have a pastor in the team in Andre Fletcher, we keep on praying,” West Indies skipper Darren Sammy said after becoming the first captain to lead a team to a second World T20 title. “Good to see Carlos play like that in his debut World Cup. Shows the Twenty20 depth we have in the Caribbean. Hopefully we will continue to improve.”

The 24 runs Brathwaite scored off Stokes was the highest in the final over of a Twenty20 International, bettering Australia’s mark of 23 against Pakistan in Gros Islet in 2010. England’s death overs hero Stokes was left distraught after failing to contain Brathwaite, who had a memorable night having scored 34 with the bat after earlier claiming 3-23 with the ball to restrict England to a modest total. Man-of-the-match Marlon Samuels was not out on 85 but it was Brathwaite’s blistering total off 10 balls that saw them home. —Reuters

Cricinfo adds: West Indies converted their maiden appearance in a World Twenty20 Women’s final into a historic victory in Kolkata, beating three-time defending champions Australia for the first time in a T20 international by pulling off the second highest chase in the tournament’s history. The heroes of the daunting pursuit were 18-year old Hayley Matthews and the captain Stafanie Taylor, whose half-centuries and 120-partnership came at more than a run a ball. 

Their effort left West Indies with two runs to get off four balls, and when Britney Cooper pushed to Megan Schutt at midwicket and sprinted, what should have been a run-out at the bowler’s end resulted in the overthrow that sealed the title. Their team-mates blazed a trail on to the field and the women were soon joined by the West Indies men in joyful celebrations in the middle of Eden Gardens.