Windies bag World T/20

Marlon Samuels’ power hitting was the fulcrum of the West Indies batting, which recovered from a poor start to beat Sri Lanka, and win the World Twenty20 by 36 runs at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka Sunday.{{more}}

The West Indies looked out of the contest as they only managed 32 runs from 10 overs, with the talismanic Chris Gayle contributing only 3 runs from 16 balls.

Samuels then went into autopilot as he bludgeoned 6 sixes and 3 fours in a knock of 78 from 56 balls, to resuscitate the West Indies innings.

Darren Sammy, at the back end of the innings, hit 26 not out from 15 balls, including 3 fours, as West Indies rallied to 137 for 6 from their 20 overs.

Ajantah Mendis was the pick of the home team bowling, with 4 for 12.

The hosts, in front of a raucous crowd, never fully recovered from the loss of Tilakaratne Dilshan, who was comprehensively beaten and bowled by Ravi Rampaul in the second over of the run chase.

The balance tilted slightly in Sri Lanka’s favour, as they were 48 for 1 with half the overs gone.

But West Indies clawed their way back with a 4-wicket burst, to leave Sri Lanka at 74 for 6 in over number 14.

It then became 69 for 7, before Nuwan Kulasekara’s 13-ball 26 gave them hope.

However, there was not to be any final twist, as the West Indies bowled out Sri Lanka for 101 in the 19th over, which sparked a seemingly rehearsed Chris Gayle-led “Gangnam dance” celebration from the team and the back room staff.

The Sri Lankans were strangled by the bowling of Sunil Narine, who took 3 for 9; Darren Sammy 2 for 6, and there was a wicket apiece for Samuel Badree, Ravi Rampaul, and Marlon Samuels.

The victory came against the regional side emerging from the preliminary round without a win, as they lost to Australia and their match against Ireland ended in a no-decision.

In the super eights, the West Indies defeated England, lost convincingly to Sri Lanka and inched their way into the semi-final with a nervy super-over eliminator against New Zealand, after the match ended in a tie.

The West Indies clobbered Australia by 74 runs in the semi-final, to set up and take revenge from Sri Lanka in the title match.

It was the West Indies’ first global cricket title since they won the ICC champions trophy in England in 2004.

The West Indies last world title was in 1979, when they claimed the World Cup, also in England, under the captaincy of the legendary Clive Lloyd.

Sunday’s defeat was Sri Lanka’s fourth in as many finals.

Sri Lanka in the 2009 world T-20 finals lost to Pakistan.

Sri Lanka also choked in consecutive World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011 to Australia and India, respectively. (RT)