(BBC) Carlos Brathwaite hit the first four balls of the final over for six as West Indies stunned England to win the World Twenty20.
West Indies, who were 11-3 in pursuit of England’s 155-9, needed 19 off the final over to win and did it in style.
Marlon Samuels’ 85 not out kept them in contention before Brathwaite’s match-winning blitz off Ben Stokes.
Joe Root scored 54 for England but nothing could stop the Windies joining their women as World T20 champions.
In the process, the West Indies also became the first two-time winners of the men’s World Twenty20.
Despite the devastating loss, England can take a lot of encouragement from their performance in this tournament, which has showcased an attacking philosophy and resilience that was completely lacking during their group-stage exit of last year’s 50-over World Cup.
But for Brathwaite and Samuels, it would have been Eoin Morgan’s side capping their rapid improvement with their own World T20 title.
A thrilling final over
Brathwaite came in at number eight, joining Samuels at the crease in the 16th over with the West Indies on 107-6 and needing 49 from 27 balls.
The tall bowler had only batted twice in the competition prior to the final, scoring 10 not out against South Africa and 13 against Afghanistan in the group stages.
But, with 19 needed off Stokes’ last over, he seized his moment with the bat in spectacular fashion.
- Stokes’ first ball – a half-volley on leg stump – is hammered into the stand behind deep backward square.
- The second is hit down the ground and over long-on.
- Brathwaite makes it three in a row with another big shot down the ground, this time over long-off.
- The 27-year-old completes the victory with a fourth maximum, into the delirious crowd in the stand behind deep midwicket.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login