This day that year: Brathwaite takes WI to T20 WC glory

Kolkata, April 3 (IANS) West Indies dramatically won their second T20 World Cup title four years ago in Kolkata by beating England by four wickets in the final. And it will always be remembered for Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes that took the Windies home at the Eden Gardens.

West Indies were chasing a target of 156 and were reduced to 11/3 by the third over. Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo then resurrected the innings before the former led the counter attack in the last four overs. He was however running out of partners at the other end until Brathwaite came in at no.8.

Brathwaite was on strike in the last over having made 10 off six balls. West Indies needed 19 runs to win and the priority in any normal situation would have been to get Samuels on strike as soon as possible. But Brathwaite had other ideas.

Ben Stokes bowled the last over and his first ball was sent soaring over deep backward square leg. The second went over long on for his second six and third went for another six runs over long-off. All of a sudden, West Indies needed just one run to win and Brathwaite finished it off with another six over deep midwicket as the Windies players ran onto the field in joy.

In the 2019 World Cup, Brathwaite looked set to do a repeat of the 2016 final, this time against New Zealand at Manchester. He smashed 25 runs off the 48th over with West Indies needing 33 to win at the start of it. He reached his maiden ODI hundred in the penultimate over with West Indies needing just six to win off eight deliveries. However, he went for a six off the fourth ball of the over that was caught at long-on. His was the last wicket to fall and West Indies lost by five runs.

–IANS

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