The West Indies upset the odds to win the t20 World Cup after they fought back from a poor batting performance to beat Sri Lanka by 36 runs to stun the home fans packed into R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
With an expectant crowd watching on Sri Lanka seemed destined to win the tournament after they had reduced the West Indies to a total of 87-5 buy a brilliant innings from Marlon Samuels (78) tipped the balance in favour of Darren Sammy’s side.
Samuels smashed three boundaries and six sixes during his 56 ball innings to help the West Indies fight back from adversity after the early loss of Chris Gayle (3) and Johnson Charles (0) to help set the Sri Lankan’s a run chase of 138.
The 31 year old inning’s rejuvenated the West Indies who looked on the verge of collapse before they powered back with the ball to restrict Sri Lanka to a total of just 101 to win their first tournament since the 2004 Champions Trophy.
Mahela Jayawardene (33) and Kumar Sangakkara (22) got the Sri Lankan run chase off to a good start after the early loss of Tillakaratne Dilshan (0) before a batting collapse handed victory to the West Indies.
Jayawardene and Sangakkara shared a 2nd wicket stand of 42 but the wicket of Sangakkara in the 10th over changed the course of the game as Sri Lanka slumped from 48-1 to just 69-7 in the space of five overs.
Samuel Badree (1-24), Darren Sammy (2-6) and Sunil Narine (3-9) all picked up wickets during the collapse before Jeevan Mendis (3) and Thisara Perera (3) were run out in the space of five deliveries.
Nuwan Kulasekara (26) enjoyed a brief cameo for the hosts but with 44 runs still needed from the final four overs the game was all but over as the West Indies remained calm to clinch victory.
The West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first but the decision by Sammy proved to be the wrong one after his side had been restricted to a total of just 14-2 after the opening six power play overs.
Samuels offered some hope but with only Sammy (26) and Dwayne Bravo (19) providing any support the West Indies looked in serious trouble thanks to another incredible spell of bowling from Ajantha Mendis (4-12).
Angelo Matthews (1-11) got the game off the perfect start with the wicket of Charles at the end of his first over before he went on to concede just 11 runs from his three reaming over.
Lasith Malinga (0-54) proved pretty costly after he was picked out by Samuels during his aggressive innings but he made up for it with a superb fielding performance as everything went perfectly for the hosts until it was there turn to bat.
