It was Sri Lanka’s backyard in Colombo and the side had been doing pretty well in ICC tournaments to reach the final. Here was the most anticipated moment for the glorious duo of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. They had played some consistent cricket to reach there and knew that they were up against a mercurial West Indies side. As expected, the Caribbean side had launched themselves in the self-destruct mode in the final of ICC World T20 2012. By the end of Powerplay, they were 14 for 2 with their star Chris Gayle back in the pavilion after a painstaking 3 off 16. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: England vs West Indies, ICC World T20 2016, Final at Kolkata
West Indies were 22 for 2 after 8 overs and Sri Lanka sniffed a ICC trophy coming their way, finally.
Impressive bloke and Steve Waugh’s red rag
Marlon Samuels, a name that we have watching for a decade and half, was expected to take West Indies cricket to great heights when he broke into the side as an all-rounder in 2000-01. West Indies were routed 5-0 by Australia but the way this teenager handled the greatest bowling attack, compelled the great Steve Waugh to part with a part of his lucky red rag. In 2002, he smashed his first ODI hundred at Vijaywada. He blasted 108 not out from just 75 balls and mind you, it was early 2000s and that knock proved to be series defining as India lost the series at home 3-4.
On reaching the hundred, Samuels waved the piece of cloth that Waugh had gifted him. 14 years on, when we talk of him. Yes, he was destined to do greater things and a Test average of 33.53 and ODI average of just over 34 may not be the right parameter to judge.
Malinga routing
West Indies had recovered to 48 for 2 after 12 overs when the dreaded Lasith Malinga was brought into attack. Mahela’s idea to bring him this early was the thought of the champion bowler yorking them to glory. What followed were three sixes from Samules in that over. Later, wickets kept tumbling at one end but Samuels stood his ground. Malinga was introduced again in the 17th over. The 3rd, 4th and 5th ball went for 4, 6 and 6.
Who is the best T20 pacer of all-time? Of course, Malinga and he had been hit for five sixes by Samuels. With late flourish from skipper Darren Sammy, West Indies managed to get 137 and Samuels had scored 78 from 56. Sunil Narine bowled them to a 36-run win as West Indies lifted the trophy for the first time and what followed was celebration ‘Gangnam Style’.
Part II
From 2012 in Colombo to 2016 in Kolkata, against all adversities West Indies made it to the final of the World T20 again. Samuels had been receiving a bit of flak from his old foe Shane Warne in the commentary box. He was determined to answer him with the bat. Of course, not hurling it at him this time.
He had played a few decent knocks to get West Indies to the final. Chasing 156 against England, once again Johnson Charles and Gayle were dismissed in the second over. By the third over, they were 11 for three. In an explosive yet volatile batting line-up, someone had to play the long innings and hold things together till the end so that the platform is set.
It was another story that with 19 needed from the final over, Carlos Brathwaite hoisted Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes. At the other end, Samuels remained unbeaten on 85 from 66 balls. Minus those four monster hits, till the start of the 20th over he had scored over 62 percent of his team’s runs. This time it was time for ‘Champion Dance’.
We do not know how the moody and controversial Samuels will go down in the history but he has achieved something that no one else has. Man of the Match in two World Cup finals. Well done and achievement, extraordinaire.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer , strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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