Four sixes in four balls, West Indies wins World T20 and hearts
The West Indies won the World T20, defeating England by four wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday (April 3). Set a target of 156, the West Indies needed 19 runs off the last over. The scales were slightly tilted in favour of England at the start of the last over, it has to be said. But then Carlos Brathwaite went ballistic, hitting Ben Stokes for four sixes in four deliveries, helping his side script a historic win at a storied stadium. Marlon Samuels also played a good hand with 85 not out.
The West Indies became the first team to win the World T20 twice, having won it also in 2012. The West Indies also lifted the women's World T20 title earlier in the day, when it beat Australia, capping a fantastic treble in 2016, which also saw it winning the under-19 World Cup in February.
The Caribbeans won the World T20, but more than anything else, they won the hearts of millions of cricket lovers in India and across the world.
Here's the song by Dwayne Bravo that has been going viral, a song that defined the West Indies in this tournament, and the free, fun-loving spirit of the Caribbeans:
The West Indies is indeed one of the most popular teams in the game and its famous win was heartily celebrated on Twitter thus:
The women have done it, now to cheer for the men! Happy to be a 'west' Indian for a day!! #WT20Final
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 3, 2016
Unbelievable !! Braithwaite you genius!!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 3, 2016
Maan, it is old monk time! ????#WestIndies
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 3, 2016
Have watched this great game for 40 years: tonight was spl. Four sixes to finish a game. Wow! #WT20Final
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 3, 2016
When West Indies win, Cricket wins. The gods are smiling tonight! #Braithwaite
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 3, 2016
Most exciting #WT20 I have watched
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) April 3, 2016
Just to watch #WI celebrate, one ought to root for them every time. The fun gene dominates in the islands. #WT20Final
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) April 3, 2016
Under 19. Women's T20. Men's T20. Been an excellent couple of months for #WI. #RallyRoundTheWestIndies
— Chinmay Bhogle (@chinmaybhogle) April 3, 2016
Stokes chokes as breathtaking Braithwaite takes the #WorldT20final from England...incredible performance..
— Manmauji (@surfds) April 3, 2016
Who writes these scripts!! #Brathwaite
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 3, 2016
i think I have seen it all..........................#WestIndies #Brathwaite
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 3, 2016
They have won everything to be won.....................What a bunch of players.....What a way to play this game
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 3, 2016
The most dramatic end to a world event you will ever see.......#ICCWT20
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 3, 2016
And now that Carlos has hit four sixes in a row to win a match, we can forget Javed Miandad Sharjah!! #WT20Final
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 3, 2016