KOLKATA - Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes in the last over as the West Indies stunned England to lift the World Twenty20 title in Kolkata on Sunday.
The Windies went into the last over needing 19 to win and with expert death bowler Ben Stokes handed the ball, it looked like England would see out the win.
But Brathwaite held his nerve to fire the Windies to an unlikely four-wicket win with two balls to spare, leaving Stokes devastated on the field.
“To see Carlos play like that at his debut World Cup was just tremendous,” an emotional West Indies skipper Darren Sammy said afterwards.
England captain Eoin Morgan refused to blame Stokes. “It’s not his fault, we’re all in this together, we enjoy our wins, and the pain will be shared tonight,” he said.
Marlon Samuels anchored the West Indies’ run chase of 156 with an unbeaten 85, including nine boundaries and two sixes, after England had posted 155-9 in their 20 overs.
After being reduced to 11 for three, Samuels single-handedly kept the Caribbean team in the hunt with his 66-ball blitz.
Earlier in the day, West Indian women stunned Australia in the final of World T20.
Powerful half-centuries from Hayley Matthews and skipper Stafanie Taylor fired the West Indies to their maiden women’s World Twenty20 crown in a thrilling last-over win against Australia at Kolkata.
Chasing a competitive 149 for a win against the three-time champions, West Indies rode a blistering 120-run opening stand between Matthews (66) and Taylor (59) to triumph with three balls to spare.
The Windies won by eight wickets at the Eden Gardens stadium as they picked up their first win against Australia at their ninth attempt.
“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. Means so much for us and especially the people of the Caribbean,” said Windies wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira.
Player of the match Matthews and Taylor, who looked determined from the word go, acquired 16 runs off the sixth over, including a humongous six from Matthews.
(Details on Sports Pages)