Brathwaite blitz clinches dramatic win for West Indies

3 Apr 2016 | Cricket
Four sixes in four balls from Carlos Brathwaite clinched World Twenty20 victory for West Indies in a dramatic finale at Eden Gardens.
England were in a winning position going into the final over, with 19 required, but Brathwaite produced an astonishing blitz to snatch the trophy for the West Indies.

It was cruel on Ben Stokes, whose final over was not up to scratch. But Brathwaite (35 not out) - together with Marlon Samuels who hit 85 not out - proved to be the difference.

After losing Jason Roy, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan early, England recovered to post 155/9 off their 20 overs.

Again it was the in-form duo of Joe Root and Jos Buttler who came to the party. Root smashed 54 off 33 balls to allow Morgan's men to post a competitve total, while Buttler bludgeoned 36.

There was a second wobble when Root fell to Carlos Brathwaite and Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali came and went - but David Willey smeared a bright and breezy 21 at the end to hoist England's total above 150.

Brathwate, who returned figures of 3/23 from his four overs, was the pick of the bowlers, along with Samuel Badree whose opening spell of leg spin saw him take 2/16.

West Indies' chase begun in similar fashion to England's. After Morgan took the surprise move of opening the bowling with Root, the Yorkshire man snared the prize scalps of Johnson Charles and Chris Gayle, before Willey dismissed Lendl Simmons to leave the Windies 11/3.

Samuels and Darren Bravo combined to give Darren Sammy's side hope, but a flurry of wickets meant West Indies appeared slightly off the pace.

Stokes took a smart catch to get rid of the dangerous Andre Russell, but the finale was all about Brathwaite and his stunning hitting.

Four sixes in four balls triggered wild West Indies celebrations, while an inconsolable Stokes pondered what might have been. England will take heart from a brilliant tournament and the performances of Root and Buttler, but they ultimately came up short.

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