Monday, 04 April 2016

The best team won the World Cup

The West Indies won the ICC World Twenty 20 India 2016 after they beat England in the final on 3 March. This World Cup was a topsy turvy one, with surprises and upsets throughout. Yet the winners proved that they were the best team in the tournament, showing up their opponents on all fronts (except when they lost to Afghanistan). From the start, the Windies proved that they were a force to be reckoned with, and were fiercely determined to win. Now they are the first team to win the T20 World Cup twice.

The West Indies did everything right to win the ICC World Twenty 20 India 2016. Photo from http://ccl6t.com

With bat, the Windies proved that they could destroy any bowling lineup – despite Kieron Pollard not playing in the tournament, and Chris Gayle getting out early in most of the matches. The mere fact that their number eight batsman, Carlos Brathwaite, hit four sixes in a row in the last over in the final, under inconceivable pressure, to win the World Cup – shows that anything is possible for this team.

While West Indies did not have the most impressive bowling attack, their bowlers were clever. They varied their bouncers, yorkers and slower balls throughout the tournament, always leaving the batsmen guessing. The spinner always came on at the right time, and bowling changes suited the stage of the innings.

While not perfect in the field, the West Indies were no worse than than any other team in a tournament which saw too many dropped catches and missed chances. At one point in the final, it seemed that the Windies had left too much to do too late. But the West Indies showed us that anything is possible for a team that believes despite all odds.