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Double delight for West Indies in World T20 2016

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Mumbai: The World Twenty20 2016 concluded in a most thrilling fashion with the West Indies scripting history by becoming the first team to clinch the title for the second time. The party for the Windies on Sunday at the iconic Eden Gardens got even bigger and better as before the men’s final, the women’s team won the Women’s World T20 to make it two world titles in a day.

Before the tournament actually kicked off, nobody gave the men from the Caribbean a chance to reach the final, because of their recent troubles off the field with their cricket board and with a few T20 specialists missing from their squad due to injury.

But the depth in the batting and bowling line-up, the talent in their dressing room and their bench strength fought against all odds and proved the critics wrong by eventually claiming their second World T20 title after 2012.

Each and every member of the squad delivered when it mattered most and the final against England will be everlasting in their memories thanks to Carlos Brathwaite’s late assault with the bat which left 2010 winners England stunned.

With the West Indies also winning the U-19 World Cup earlier this year, 2016 is witnessing a revival of sorts for the former superpowers of the game. They may no longer be the same force they used to be in Test cricket, but Sunday’s triumph clearly demonstrated that they are still among the best when it comes to limited-overs cricket.

Besides the West Indies, hosts India, who were termed as favourites to win the title, gave it their all with three successive wins after a loss against New Zealand in the opener, but failed to hold on till the end.

With comfortable back-to-back victories against arch-rivals Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men made their way through to the semi-finals, but surrendered to the mighty West Indians who took the game away from the hosts to leave India and their millions of fans shell-shocked.

Although the 2007 inaugural World T20 winners failed to make it to their third final, their all-win record against traditional rivals Pakistan in the World T20 and 50-over World Cup remained intact.

Courtesy of star batsman Virat Kohli’s sublime form, the hosts outplayed their neighbours in all departments of the game in the Group 2 match to make it 11-0 in their favour in both 20-over and 50-over World Cups.

But the sixth edition of the World T20, like the earlier editions, has seen big totals chased down with ease. New Zealand’s Martin Guptill starting off the tournament with a six off the first ball and Brathwaite finished it off on Sunday with another maximum — sums up why cricket is considered to be a batsman’s game.

But the team which surprised all with their consistency throughout the group stages of the tournament was ICC associate member nation Afghanistan.

After troubling England, South Africa and Sri Lanka, the talented and spirited side scripted one of the most memorable wins by coming out as the only team to have beaten eventual champions West Indies in the tournament.

With the sixth edition of the World T20 in the sub-continent done and dusted, Australia will host the seventh edition in 2020. Expect another run-feast and cracker of a contest between bat and ball.

(IANS)

England-West Indies lock horns to clinch World T20 for second time

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Kolkata: This may not be the final sports buffs would have expected, but both the West Indies and England know they are on the doorstep of history to become the first team to win the World Twenty20 twice as they lock horns in the summit clash here on Sunday.

Very few would have given these two sides a chance when the tourney began, considering the subcontinental conditions. And also, neither of them were in champion form.

England were still recovering from their debacle in the 50-over World Cup last year while West Indies players had problems aplenty with their country’s cricket board, that led to some stars opting out.

The last time these two sides met was in the first match of Group 1 on March 16. Chasing a tough total of 182, Chris Gayle made it look ridiculously easy. The burly Jamaican remained unbeaten on 100 and took West Indies home with six wickets and 11 balls to spare.

However, England bounced back in some style by winning against South Africa in the next contest. With the help of Joe Root and other power hitters they chased down a target of 229.

The ‘Three Lions’ had a bit of a scare against minnows Afghanistan, but nevertheless they scraped past the finishing pole and then quite easily skipped past the Sri Lankan threat.

In the semis, it was opener Jason Roy who played an outstanding knock (44-ball, 78) chasing 153 to oust New Zealand from the competition.

On their way to the final, West Indies beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets and then went past South Africa by three wickets. But then they fell against Afghanistan.

However, the team showed great character to rally back from the disappointment and produced an all-round team effort against India in the semi-finals at the Wankhede on Thursday.

The Eden Gardens, however, will be a different strip altogether. The wickets here are known to have purchase for the bowlers and at this time of the year it turns too.

West Indies have come armed with all-rounders and spinners who are perfect for such conditions. And in the finals they are likely to go with the same outfit as they did against India.

However, if there is grass on the surface, pacer Jerome Taylor might get a look in.

The batting has been explosive to say the least. Lendl Simmons, who came into the side against India, has struck form and with players like Andrew Russell and Johnson Charles, the 2012 champions are a powerful batting unit.

Fighting fire with fire, England have their very own batting arsenal. Top order willowers Jason Roy and Alex Hales have been great, followed by consistency from the likes of Joe Root and Jos Buttler. It is also the time for their captain Eoin Morgan to come good.

“We’ve just got to do our business like we want to do — a style of cricket that is positive. Plan to do that on Sunday as well. We know how strong West Indies are as a side. We have to play well to beat them, make sure we look at our own game,” Root told reporters here ahead of the clash.

England have a young and inexperienced bowling line-up which will be put to the test here but then again they have been crafty about the trade and have yielded favourable results.

Head to head statistics show England have lost nine of their 13 T20 encounters against the West Indies. The Eden Gardens is also the stage where England had lost to Australia in the final of the 50-over World Cup in 1987 after their skipper Mike Gatting needlessly went for a famous reverse sweep that finished in the hands of the wicket-keeper.

Similarly, West Indies perished to Pakistan by five wickets from a favourable posiition in the invitational Nehru Cup final two years later.

Both sides, would be hoping to avoid any more reverse at the iconic venue.

Cricket lovers have to wait till Sunday night to see whether Morgan’s men create history in front of a packed stadium, or whether the West Indies cricketers end up dancing to their calypso.

Squads:

West Indies: Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wicketkeeper), Andre Russell, Darren Sammy (captain), Carlos Brathwaite, Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Jerome Taylor.

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett.

(IANS)

West Indies stun India to enter World T20 final

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west-indies

Mumbai: West Indies defeated India by seven wickets in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium here on Thursday to enter the final of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament.

Batting first, India posted a competitive total of 192/2 in 20 overs, thanks to Virat Kohli’s 89.

In reply, star batsmen Lendl Simmons and Johnson Charles struck quickfire half-centuries as Windies chased down the score, posting 196/3 in 19.4 overs.

(IANS)

West Indies opt to bowl against India in World T20 semis. India 161/2 in 18 overs

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Mumbai: West Indies skipper Darren Sammy won the toss and decided to bowl against India in the second semi-final of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Wankhede Stadium here on Thursday.

India made two changes to their side. Batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey came in for Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Batsmen Chris Gayle and Lendl Simmons return for Evin Lewis and injured Andre Fletcher, who had a hamstring problem against Afghanistan.

The teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Hardik Pandya.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Sulieman Benn, Samuel Badree.

(IANS)

West Indies beat South Africa to enter World T20 semis

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West Indies South Africa

Nagpur: The West Indies produced an all-round performance to outclass South Africa by three wickets in a Group 1 clash at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) stadium here on Friday to enter the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament.

Batting first, South Africa were never in control of the game as they lost wickets at regular intervals to post a meagre total of 122/8 in 20 overs.

In reply, riding on Marlon Samuels’ impressive 44, the West Indies batted sensibly as they chased down the target posting 123/7 in 19.4 overs.

Chasing a tricky target of 123, the West Indies lost hard-hitting opener Chris Gayle (4) in the very first over, thanks to pacer Kagiso Rabada who cleaned him up after the latter was hit for a boundary by the left-handed batsman.

After the loss of the first wicket, Johnson Charles (32) and Andre Fletcher (11) used their experience to good effect to hold on for a couple of overs but the sixth over saw some outstanding fielding followed by an electrifying throw by Rilee Rossouw ended Fletcher’s stay on the crease.

Despite the wicket of Fletcher, Charles played positively alongside incoming batsman Marlon Samuels to take team past 50-run mark.

But South Africa struck twice in quick succession dismissing Charles and Dwayne Bravo (8) to stay alive in the game.

But Samuels used his experience to good effect to take team close to victory line before getting himself out.

Next up, Carlos Brathwaite (10 not out) and Dinesh Ramdin (1 not out) remained unbeaten to take West Indies to triumph.

Imran Tahir (2-13) was the pick of the Proteas’ bowlers.

Earlier put into bat, South Africa got off to a disastrous start losing opener Hashim Amla (1), Faf Du Plessis (9) and Rossouw (0) to have team wobbling at 20/3 in three overs.

From there on, opener Quinton de Kock (47) and AB de Villiers (10) held on to help team go past the powerplay with 39/3 on board.

But next up, the Proteas received their biggest blow when de Villiers, trying to flick through midwicket, was cleaned up by a slower ball from Bravo in the eighth over.

The batting side failed to learn from the earlier mistakes on a wicket which looked tough for batting as part-time off-spinner Gayle, who had dismissed Rossouw, struck yet again in the ninth over to shatter David Miller’s stumps and have South Africa in a spot of bother at 47/5.

Incoming batsman David Wiese (28) and De Kock took their time in the middle without trying anything silly to help team go past 90-run mark in 15 overs.

But as De Kock was chipping in with ones and twos to get close to his second T20I fifty, Russell came in to get rid of the left-handed batsman to have the former three runs short off half-century.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, life became difficult for the Proteas batsmen to post a respectable total as tail-enders Chris Morris (16 not out) and Aaron Phangiso (4) helped team reach 122/8.

Chris Gayle (2-17), Dwayne Bravo (2-20) and Andre Russell (2-28) were the pick of the bowlers for the West Indies.

Brief scores: South Africa 122/8 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 47; Chris Gayle 2-17, Dwayne Bravo 2-20, Andre Russell 2-28) vs West Indies 123/7 in 19.4 overs (Marlon Samuels 44; Imran Tahir 2-13)

(IANS)

West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

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West Indies

Bengaluru: West Indies beat Sri Lanka in the second match of the Super 10 stage of World Twenty20 here on Sunday at Chinnaswamy Stadium, chasing down the 123 run target with nearly two overs left and seven wickets in hand.

After restricting Sri Lanka to 122/9, the Caribbean team easily reached the target in the 19th over, led by Andre Fletcher’s 84 off 64 balls with five sixes and six fours.

West Indies hit 127 runs for the loss of three wickets in 18.2 overs.

Except for a little while in the middle overs, the West Indies never found the going tough. Though Johnson Charles (10), Marlon Samuels (3), and Dinesh Ramdin (5) were lost cheaply, Andre Russell saw his team home to end with style, hitting 20 runs off eight balls.

Fletcher was declared man of the match.

Winning the toss, West Indies captain Darren Sammy chose to field and his bowlers managed to contain the Sri Lankans from going for big shots with spinner Samuel Badree recording figures of 3/12.

Thisara Perera was top scorer with 40 runs off 29 balls, while Dinesh Chandimal (16), Angelo Matthews (20) and Dilshan (12) were the only other ones who managed to get into double figures.

Brief Scores: West Indies 127/3 in 18.2 overs (Andre Fletcher 84, Andre Russell 20, Milinda Siriwardana 2/33, Jeffrey Vandersay 1/11) beat Sri Lanka 122/9 in 20 overs (Thisara Perera 40, Angelo Matthew 20, Samuel Badree 3/12, Dwayne Bravo 2/20).

(IANS)

World T20: Gayle’s unbeaten ton blows away England

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chris-gayle

Mumbai: Swashbuckling West Indian batsman Chris Gayle blasted an unbeaten 100 in just 48 balls to steer his side to a comfortable six wicket victory against England in their Group 1 World Twenty20 cricket clash at the WankhedeStadium here on Wednesday.

Batting first, England posted 183/6 in 20 overs, thanks to Joe Root’s 48.

In reply, the hard-hitting batsman from Caribbean unleashed his batting skills as he struck five boundaries and 11 massive sixes to take his team to victory as the team scored 183/4 in 18.1 overs.

Chasing a challenging target of 183, West Indies got off to a disappointing start losing opener Johnson Charles (0) off the second bowl off the innings.

But his opening partner, Gayle played sensibly without taking any undue risk.

Gayle was well supported in the other end by incoming batsman Marlon Samuels (37 off 27). The duo added crucial 55 runs partnership for the second wicket to take team’s score past 50-run mark.

But leg-spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership in the seventh over dismissing Samuels.

Wickets in the other end did not stop Gayle from scoring as he took some calculated risks to bring up his half-century off just 27 balls.

Dinesh Ramdin (12) held on in the other end along with Gayle but a silly shot from the wicket-keeper batsman in the 12th over saw him head back to the pavilion, leaving West Indies at 103/3.

Gayle stayed calm, composed and took on the bowling to bring up his ton in just 47 balls. He was well assisted by Andre Russell (15 not out) as the duo ensured their side got past England’s total to register their first victory of the competition.

David Willey, Reece Topley, Rashid and Moeen Ali claimed one wicket each for England.

Earlier put into bat on a green-top wicket, openers Alex Hales (27) and Jason Roy (15) gave England a positive start scoring 36 off the first four overs.

But medium pacer Russell brought the first breakthrough in the third ball off the fifth over by dismissing Roy.

Incoming batsman Joe Root (48) along with opener Hales scored at a good pace from there on to bring up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket in just 34 balls and take the score past 80 in 10 overs.

But as Hales was looking good after striking four boundaries, off-spinner Sulieman Benn castled the right-handed batsman in the 12th over to reduce England to 92/2.

England received yet another blow as set batsman Root, looking good to bring up his half-century, fell short as he tried to go over the top and was eventually caught at mid-off by Jerome Taylor off the bowling off Russell.

England lost the momentum losing two wickets in quick succession reaching 114/3 in 14.2 overs.

A late assault by Jos Buttler (30 off 20), aided by skipper Eoin Morgan (27 not out off 14) and Ben Stokes (15 off 7) helped them reach a respectable total.

Andre Russell (2/36) and Dwayne Bravo (2-41) were the pick of bowlers for the West Indies.

Brief score: England 182/6 in 20 overs (Joe Root 48; Andre Russell 2-36, Dwayne Bravo 2-41) vs West Indies 183/4 in 18.1 overs (Chris Gayle 100 not out; David Willey 1-33, Reece Topley 1-21, Adil Rashid 1-20, Moeen Ali 1-38)

(IANS)

West Indies v England: Kraigg Brathwaite makes ton for hosts

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by Stephan Shemilt, BBC Sport

England were frustrated by Kraigg Brathwaite’s composed century as West Indies had the better of the fourth day of the second Test in Grenada.

His 101 not out took the home side to 202-2, a lead of 37.

Earlier, England moved their overnight 373-6 to 464 all out, with Joe Root ending unbeaten on 182.

On a pitch that remains lifeless, a draw seems the most likely result, lengthening England’s wait for a first overseas win since 2012.

If a positive result on the final day is possible, then it is Alastair Cook’s men who are more likely to earn a 1-0 series lead.

However, the lack of opportunities created in the turgid afternoon and evening sessions suggest that an attack lacking variety will find it hard to take the eight wickets required quickly enough for a run-chase to be undertaken.

“We’ll chase anything, we just need enough time,” Root told BBC Sport. “We have to have a really good session with the ball in the morning.

“West Indies need need a lot of credit for the way they played tonight. They were under quite a bit of pressure with lead we had, but they have got themselves back in the game.

“We will have a scrap on our hands if we want to get a result.”

England will at least have the opportunity to bowl with a new ball and will hope to find the swing movement that made James Anderson dangerous before lunch, when Devon Smith failed to withdraw his bat from an outswinger and deflected the ball on to his stumps.

Thereafter, Brathwaite and Darren Bravo made England toil on a surface showing little pace or bounce and only slow turn.

They shared 142 for the second wicket, with Brathwaite overcoming some early uncertainty outside off stump to cut repeatedly and the more assured Bravo occasionally unfurling flamboyant drives.

In the face of West Indian patience, England were able to create nothing more than half-chances. Stuart Broad almost had Brathwaite glove to slip, while the otherwise disappointing off-spin of Moeen Ali saw Bravo flash past gully and and Brathwaite nearly lob to mid-wicket.

In the end, mid-way through the evening session, England’s perseverance with a plan of hanging the ball outside off stump paid off as Bravo edged Broad through to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Brathwaite remained, joined by Marlon Samuels, who received no obvious response to the saluting send-off he gave Ben Stokes on the third evening.

The right-handed opener was the recipient of a failed lbw review from the bowling of Chris Jordan, then completed his fourth Test century with another cut off Anderson.

That sealed an ideal day for West Indies, who chipped through the England batting in the morning session with plenty of help from the tourists.

The impressive leg-spin of Devendra Bishoo had Buttler stumped by some distance and Broad caught from a gloved sweep, either side of Jordan being run-out in a mix-up with Root.

That was the only mistake of an imperious Root knock, the 24-year-old becoming the second-youngest England player to reach 2,000 Test runs and only the ninth man to make four scores in excess of 150 before the age of 25.

Cutting the seamers and looking to hit straight or slog-sweep against Bishoo, he farmed the strike when partnered with last-man Anderson to add 33 for the 10th wicket.

He looked primed for a second Test double hundred, but was denied when Anderson was run-out in dozy fashion, failing to ground his bat, perhaps not expecting Jason Holder to gather a return from high above his head.

In frustration, Root hit the ground with his bat and threw his helmet when across the boundary edge, while the visitors were left short of a lead that would pressure West Indies.

Ultimately, though, it is wickets, rather than runs, that are the problem for England.

Martin Guptill hits highest World Cup score in New Zealand victory

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Martin Guptill

by Stephan Shemilt, BBC Sport

New Zealand’s Martin Guptill smashed the highest score in World Cup history with 237 not out against West Indies to send his team into the semi-finals.

His 163-ball innings in Wellington featured 11 sixes and 24 fours and beatthe 215 made by West Indies’ Chris Gayle earlier in the tournament.

Guptill, 28, hit 137 from his last 52 balls to help his side post 393-6.

Trent Boult then took four early wickets as New Zealand bowled out the Windies for 250 to seal a 143-run win.

Gayle’s 33-ball 61, featuring eight sixes, entertained the crowd as the Caribbean side scored at a furious pace.

But they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out in 30.3 overs to spark jubilant scenes in the capital.

New Zealand, semi-finalists for the seventh time, will now face South Africa in Auckland on Tuesday, with both seeking a first World Cup final appearance.

Guptill’s score was the second best in one-day international history behind Rohit Sharma’s 264 and propelled the Black Caps to the highest total in a World Cup knockout match.

Having ended a run of 21 innings without a century in New Zealand’s previous match against Bangladesh, he became the fifth player to make an ODI double hundred.

He joined Indians Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, and Gayle in the exclusive club.

His effort was also the fourth highest score in all List A cricket – limited-overs games that are not Twenty20s.

Opener Guptill, who was dropped on four by Marlon Samuels, already held the record for the best ODI score by a New Zealander, having madean unbeaten 189 against England in 2013.

But this effort, played out in front of a raucous Wellington crowd in a home quarter-final, ensured his place in World Cup and New Zealand cricket history.

The right-hander, who began by driving the first ball of the innings for four, heaved six after six over the leg side boundary after reaching his century.

The 10th of his sixes went out of the ground and landed on the roof of the “Cake Tin” stadium.

He shared a partnerships of 143 with Ross Taylor, whose patient 42 was the second highest score in the Kiwi innings.

Guptill, who made his second hundred from only 41 balls, beat the previous best World Cup knockout score of 149 made by Australia’s Adam Gilchrist.

He became the first New Zealander to score hundreds in consecutive World Cup innings and the first of his countrymen to bat through the full 50 overs three times in ODIs.

Gayle became the first man to make a World Cup double hundred against Zimbabwe in Canberra on 24 February.

But his record lasted only 25 days, with Gayle congratulating Guptill on the field when the New Zealander surpassed his score.

Cricket World Cup 2015: West Indies win to reach quarter-finals

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by Sam Sheringham, BBC Sport

West Indies secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable, if unconvincing, victory over the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE crumbled to 26-5 in Napier as Windies captain Jason Holder took 4-27.

But Nasir Aziz and Amjad Javed exploited some ragged bowling to add a record-tying 107 for the seventh wicket and lift the associates to 175 all out.

Johnson Charles and Jonathan Carter struck fifties as the Windies eased home by six wickets in 30.3 overs.

In reaching their target inside 36.2 overs, West Indies went through on net run rate, although their passage was not confirmed until Pakistan beat Ireland by seven wickets in Sunday’s final Pool B contest in Adelaide.

West Indies’ performance did little to suggest they will be a match for Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten New Zealand side in Wellington on 21 March.

The inconsistency that has blighted their campaign was again in evidence as a wayward spell from Kemar Roach helped the UAE get back into the game after Holder and Jerome Taylor had blown away their top order with some high-class pace bowling.

There was also a show of dissent from former captain Darren Sammy when he reacted badly to being pulled from the attack after one over and earned himself a talking-to from Holder.

By that point, the UAE were in the midst of an impressive recovery in which Aziz and Javed equalled their own team’s record for the highest World Cup seventh-wicket stand, set against Ireland in Brisbane in February.

Aziz top-scored in his first one-day innings, while Javed reached 50 for the first time with seven fours and a huge six, when he planted Taylor into the stands over long-on.

Their partnership was finally ended in the 41st over and the Windies wrapped up the tail efficiently as Taylor dismissed captain Mohammad Tauqir for his third wicket of the day.

With Chris Gayle sidelined by a back injury, Charles was handed an opportunity at the top of the West Indies order, and he kick-started the run chase with a four and a six in the first over on his way to a 34-ball half-century.

Although Dwayne Smith and Marlon Samuels once again posted low scores, and the experiment of moving Andrew Russell up the order did not pay off, Carter found some fluency to guide them home with his maiden ODI fifty.

West Indies captain Jason Holder: “The ball came out really well for me at the start. The pitch was a bit slow but it swung and bounced a bit for me.

“I’m extremely pleased with the way the guys came out and played. We needed to win by a certain margin. We had to show positive intent. We knew we had to finish the game inside 36 overs and we did it.

“New Zealand would be a big test. They are playing some very good cricket.”

UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir: “When West Indies put us in to bat first, they took good advantage of the bowling conditions.

“At 46-6 it was difficult to recover but it was a good effort by Amjad Javed and Nasir Aziz. Amjad been very consistent throughout the tournament and has been a positive for us.

“It was a decent performance for us in this tournament, a good learning experience and it has been very enjoyable.”

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