Published: Apr 04, 2016, 02:32 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 04, 2016, 05:11 PM (IST)
What an eventful day it proved for West Indies at iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata with women and men lifting the World T20 2016 Trophy on the same day. The West Indies Women reached the finish line and were victorious after defeating three-time World Champions Australia Women by 8 wickets. West Indies might have had mixed campaign before they earned the final spot, but the all-round performance has remained prominent throughout the tournament. Right from Deandra Dottin’s show with bat and ball or Stafanie Taylor letting her bat do the talking in every match. The final was rather a dramatic one with twists and turns. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia Women vs West Indies Women, T20 Women’s World Cup 2016 Final at Kolkata
But there were some highlights that broke records or gave the impetus for the rest of team mates to take the game forward:
1) Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani’s 2nd wicket stand: After early wicket of Alyssa Healy, Australia needed a strong partnership to keep the momentum going and once again it was Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani, her all-time companion, who put on some runs on board to keep the scoreboard ticking. Knowing West Indies are strong with their batting line up, Meg Lanning secured her 9th T20I half-century while Elyse Villani secured her 8th. Elyse stayed on crease until the end of 12th over while Meg was scalped by the end of 18th over.
2) Elyse Villani’s dismissal: Elyse and Meg got quite comfortable at the crease with no way to go off the field. But if it was someone who could turn the game around for West Indies was their all-rounder Deandra Dottin. She received her first wicket in the innings by breaking a much needed partnership of Meg and Elyse. By the end of 12th over, Deandra’s slower delivery cut to outside off landing safely in the hands of skipper Stafanie while Deandra did the trick for the Caribbean’s.
3) Southern Star’s final crucial over: This was the deciding point for Southern Stars as a competitive total from here could help them give them an upper hand in the tournament. Caribbean’s best bowler Deandra was called for the 20th over of Australia and Ellyse Perry, their next in form batter, was smashing all over the field to help Australia go past their usual total. But with Deandra in action, she lasted for mere three balls and was sent off the field by a lovely lbw by Dottin with Ellyse missing the slog leading to lbw. Immediately, Erin Osborne was gone for a duck with quick action by Stacy-Ann King and Deandra quickly hits it off the stumps. She had conceded 5 dot balls and a wicket with run out was a bonus. When Alex Blackwell entered the field, it was just run from that dramatic last over.
4) Highest total in Women’s World T20 Final: Australia have reached the final for fifth time and this time they went past their own total of 142 secured in 2012 final at Sri Lanka. This time they put up a competitive total of 149 and West Indies Women surpassed the total before the completion of 20 overs. So far Australia have managed to secure just 142, 105 in the final, but 149 has been the highest total runs by any team in Women World T20 final and it was scored by the West Indies. READ: Hayley Matthews, Stephanie Taylor help West Indies win maiden World T20 title, beat Australia in T20 Women’s World Cup 2016 final by 8 wickets
5) Hayley Matthew’s maiden half-century in T20s: Hayley, the 18-year-old batter, secured her maiden T20 half-century with three sixes and six fours to give West Indies the momentum. At the time Hayley achieved her maiden half-century, West Indies were 98 with no loss and the target was too far away. She made her debut in T20 cricket against New Zealand Women in 2014 and on Sunday she made her country proud shining being the leading run-scorer for West Indies win. She was named Player of the Match for her efforts.
6) Hayley Matthew and Stafanie Taylor’s record partnership for West Indies: 120 runs, yes that was the runs they secured for 1st wicket and they achieved it with much ease, knocking away almost half of the target. Stafanie Taylor’s 59 off 57 was the highest she achieved this tournament while Hayley ended her innings with knock of 66 from 45.
7) Stafanie Taylor’s crucial wicket: For the Australians, it has always been the spinners who have done the trick and this time again it was Rene Farrell grabbing the wicket of Stafanie at the end of 19th over. With a huge scalp, Australia could have turned the game around, but West Indies required just 3 from 6.
8) Megan Schutt’s missed run out: As they say, nothing is sure in T20 cricket until the last ball. This was exactly what happened with skipper’s wicket in the previous over, Australians heaved a sigh of relief and their death bowler Ellyse Perry was introduced. It was West Indies star all-rounder Deandra Dottin on strike and probably a big shot was expected to end the innings within the first ball but no just a single conceded. The next dot ball was a relief for Southern Stars keeping their hopes alive to lift the trophy. in the next delivery, the ball was hit to Megan Schutt inside the circle, but she failed to hit the wicket at the non-striker’s end from close distance and missed. This was enough to end the game for Australia and Deandra scored two run to win their maiden title.
9) Maiden Women World T20 title: After several missed chances, the team from the Caribbean finally found a way to their first Women’s World T20 title and lifting it with full confidence. It was time for the women to prove they were true champions of this tournament with their all-round and consistent performance from every member be it the skipper Stafanie, Deandra, Britney Cooper or Anisa Mohammed. Stafanie was named Player of the Tournament garnering total runs of 246 out of 6 matches played at an average of 41.
10) The “Champion Dance” by Caribbean men and women team: After their maiden victory, it was not just the men’s team grooving to the champions song, but it was also women’s team moving to the groove after the win. And yes the women’s team were joined by the men’s team with likes of Darren Sammy, Johnson Charles, Marlon Samuels and others. Similarly, once the men’s team won the match it was women’s joining them while lifting the trophy and performing the champions dance.
(Shruti Hariharan is Content Writer with CricketCountry. You can follow her on Twitter at @Shruti_2890)
