Affiliate News

Carlos Brathwaite seized victory for West Indies in quite incredible fashion CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

At the height of the all-night party at the West Indies team hotel in Kolkata a man with the cricketing world at his feet took time out to text some old team-mates in Dublin.

Darren Sammy has utilised impressive motivational skill to unite his West Indies team in their World Twenty20 title win. Photograph: Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty Images

West Indies’ captain has forged a team of champions by uniting some tricky characters from different nations

ESPN cricket columnist Mark Nicholas has apologised to West Indies men’s captain Darren Sammy and his side for his “no brains” comment before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup.

The broadcaster Mark Nicholas, left, wrote that his comments were ‘unworthy of the game and disrespectful to a great cricketing legacy’. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

• Captain Darren Sammy lamented criticism of his side
• Broadcaster offers apology for ‘throwaway’ comment

Holding the Women's World Twenty20 at the same time as the men's equivalent has drawn widespread praise ©Getty Images

Late last year, the calls for cricket to regain its place as an Olympic sport became increasingly loud and as vociferous as they had ever been.

Four sixes, job done © Getty Images

The ills of West Indies cricket may not be solved overnight, but the victorious teams - men, women and the U-19s - have brought much joy and no little flair

Ben Stokes collapses to his knees after England's agonising defeat CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

West Indies (161/6) beat England (155/9) by four wickets

The West Indies chased down a record total to win their first women’s World Twenty20 crown in the final against Australia. Photograph: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images

  • Australia 148-5; West Indies 149-2 (19.3 overs)
  • West Indies win by eight wickets to secure first World Twenty20 crown

West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite, right, and Marlon Samuels celebrate after winning the final, as England’s Ben Stokes covers his eyes. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

• Carlos Brathwaite hits four sixes off Ben Stokes’s first four balls of final over
• West Indies, 161-6, beat England, 155-9, by four wickets with two balls left

West Indies will go into the final as favourites CREDIT: AP

Captain Darren Sammy was first off the bus, holding his mobile phone and some portable speakers, the purpose of which would immediately become clear. He was followed by Dwayne Bravo, and, as a crowd gathered outside the Trident Hotel in Mumbai, the pair of them danced their way into the foyer, accompanied by the pulsing bassline of Bravo’s self-written pop single Champion.

West Indies Lendl Simmons hits to the boundary during the ICC World Twenty20 2016 cricket semifinal match against India at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, India, yesterday. AP Photo

MUMBAI—Lendl Simmons believes India’s lack of genuine pace bowlers helped him guide West Indies to a seven-wicket victory in the semifinal of the World Twenty20 yesterday. Simmons smashed an unbeaten 82 off 51 balls and featured in two strong partnerships with opener Johnson Charles (52) and Andre Russell (43 not out) as West Indies raced to 196-3 after India had scored 192-2.

West Indies women's team celebrate. Photo: ICC

West Indies Women cricketers defied the odds when they defeated New Zealand Women by six runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, to book their first-ever appearance at a Twenty20 World Cup final.