West Indies Win T20 World Cup: Dramatic Win In A Suffocated Final!

Thanks to the hidden powers of West Indies exhibited amply in the semi final against Australia we hopefully predicted an unpredictable ICC World Cup T20 2012 Final in Colombo tonight. But the past masters of raw power and skill of the game of cricket decided to stick to their one decade and a half long subdued or rather suffocated cricket. Like in the Super Eight stage they nearly handed over the match and the Cup to Sri Lanka. But in the end skipper Mahela Jaywardene could not take it even in his fourth World Cup Final entry and this time at home. West Indies have won a first World Cup title, though in T20 format, after Indiasnatched the World Cup from them in 1983.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first West Indies scored just one run off the bat in the first three overs. Their score of 14 for 2 was the fourth worst after Powerplay (6 overs) and their 32 for 2 was also the fourth worst after 10 overs in T20 World Cup history. Of course, the Sri Lankan seamers, particularly Mathews, bowled beautiful length and swing, and when the magic of spinner Ajantha Mendis (4 for 12 runs in 4 overs) unfolded it was too much for the West Indies batsmen. Thanks to a brilliant 78 off 56 balls by the Player of the Match Marlon Samuels and a finishing 26 off 15 balls by skipper Sammy the total managed to reach a little bit of respectability at 137/6 in allotted 20 overs. Chris Gayle, the demolition man, had a most ungainly innings of 3 runs from 16 balls. For Sri Lanka in home conditions the total was far from an intimidating one.

Wonder of wonders! The masters of suffocating cricket in the slowish pitches this time themselves suffocated to a bowling attack that did not have a superior tag at any point of time during the tournament. Though progressing slowly Sri Lanka were at a healthy 51/2 in the 11^th over, but very soon they slid to 69/7 in the fifteenth over. It was all over but for a late charge from seamer Kulasekara. Spinner Narine’s 3 for 9 in 3.4 overs matched Mendis for Sri Lanka. Sammy too captured 2 wickets in his slow pace bowling and to add woes to the struggling Sri Lankans there were two run outs due to direct hits. The mighty hosts got all out for just 101 runs in the 19^th over disappointing the screaming home crowds terribly. West Indiescaptain Darren Sammy whose abilities as a bowler or a batsman were always in question has now attained some popularity in the world of cricket. The Scorecard:

Apart from the spirited and sprightly cricket on the field the celebrating West Indies players have also amply displayed their dancing ability and the joyous dancing went on almost endlessly. The first bout of dancing was witnessed after the match against Australia.

A World Cup T20 Final and a result that many of the cricket lovers all over might not have expected to have ever happened. But in this short format of cricket any team is as dangerous as the other as we have said in the beginning.

Mitali: The Trauma of Losing a Sibling

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