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Home , Alex Blackwell, Anisa Mohammed, Britney Cooper, Chris Gayle, Deandra Dottin, Dwayne Bravo

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2016 SPORTS

Explosive Windies face fearless in finale

KOLKATA: West Indies’ rag-tag army of short- format mercenaries will be hoping they have the weapons to overcome a fearless England in today’s World final as both sides target the honour of being the first to claim a second title in the tournament. For a group of players who nearly boycotted the event a contractual dispute with their board, Darren Sammy and his troops have waltzed into the Kolkata final displaying all the flair that has earned them global admiration. If Twenty20 is essentially about power-hitting, no team does it better and more unabashedly than the West Indies. England have first-hand knowledge of that destructive potency, having been blown away by ’s 47-ball in a Super 10 shellacking in a fortnight ago. Revenge may be regarded as a dish best served cold but ’s men would probably like nothing more than to exact it in the heat of a World Cup final. A task easier said than done against a West Indies outfit packed with swashbuckling players who ply their trade in lucrative Twenty20 KOLKATA: England’s cricket Eoin Morgan (C) with others play a game of foot- leagues around the globe. What makes the job ball during a training session at the cricket stadium in Kolkata yeste- doubly difficult is that Sammy’s men have day. England play West Indies in the World T20 tournament final match today3 in proved in that they are more than just a Kolkata. — AFP one-man army who bank on Gayle to punch holes in their opponents. , and Andrew Russell have stepped out Morgan: England ‘mindset’ of their illustrious team mate’s shadow and made their own mark in the last month. can win WT20 final “We said this before the tournament that Chris is under pressure,” Sammy said after the KOLKATA: England’s defeat against the be a good , that’s going to be a key exhilarating semi-final victory against hosts West Indies in its opening game will have area for us,” Morgan said. “I think the last India. KOLKATA: West Indies’s captain Darren Sammy (R) and teammate jog during a no impact in today’s final at the World game we went for 20 runs in (the last) four “He is our best Twenty20 player but we have training session at The Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium in Kolkata yesterday, on the eve of the Twenty20 when they meet again, captain overs, two from Stokes, two from Jordan. I 15 match-winners in this side,” he added. The World T20 cricket tournament final match. — AFP Eoin Morgan insisted yesterday. thought they were very clear in their ever-smiling all-rounder is seeking to become “It’s two completely different teams,” thoughts and executed exceptionally well.” the first captain to lead a team to a second and combinations. secured their place in the last four. Morgan said. “We’ve grown as a side from Sammy conceded that 2010 champion World Twenty20 title but West Indies are any- They accomplished a high-scoring chase Against , Stokes and Chris every game. It’s difficult to compare sides England was now a different team to the thing but infallible. against , recovered well to subdue Jordan pacified the Black Caps in the final four from the first game to the final of the World one beaten early in the tournament with an upset-minded Afghanistan, held their nerve overs, which cost only 20 runs and garnered five Cup. I think the strides we have made in the , and opener Jason Roy PEAKING ENGLAND to edge out and stunned the previous- , to restrict them to a total that England last 12 months, this (winning the final) all among the runs. They showed two extremes to their game in ly unbeaten New Zealand with a near-perfect could chase down with 17 balls to spare. would be a great reward for the mindset “We’re not taking anything away from the last couple of outings, slumping to an game in the semi-finals. Their batsmen-especial- Morgan has freed his batsmen from the weight we have shown and the hard work we’ve England, they have improved every game embarrassing defeat to qualifiers Afghanistan ly Jason Roy, Joe Root and Jos Buttler-have bat- of expectation and it is showing in the team’s put in.” West Indies captain Darren Sammy since that defeat to us,” Sammy said. before silencing a raucous home crowd in ted with refreshing freedom and their catching performance. “That’s the way a lot of us play,” said he respected England but was confi- “They’ve their strengths and it’s up to us to Mumbai as they knocked out favourites India. has been extraordinary. Roy said of England’s aggressive after his dent his “-hitting team” will win. come up with a better plan than what they Also, the England they will face today is not Equally, if not more impressive, has been their 44-ball innings of 78 set the foundations for vic- Despite scoring 182-6, England started execute. We have the belief in the dressing the same team they thumped by six wickets in at the death. appeared to tory over New Zealand. “The whole team has with a six-wicket loss to the West Indies on room that our brand will make us victori- the group stage last month. Morgan’s side have have ice in his veins in the final over against Sri got that kind of licence, that kind of opportunity March 16 as Chris Gayle smashed a 48-ball ous come Sunday.” peaked gradually in the tournament since that Lanka to thwart Angelo Mathews’s audacious to go out there and do what they want and be unbeaten century before a successful 230- Sammy said he was impressed with defeat and seem to have found the right rhythm bid to pull off a sensational victory as England free with their skills.” — Reuters chase against South Africa put England England’s death bowling but backed his back on track. batsmen to once again come up with It had hard-fought victories over Sri explosive batting to seal a second title for Lanka and Afghanistan before a resound- the 2012 champion. “I think since the Key match-ups at ing seven-wicket win over New Zealand in inception of T20s you’ve seen West Indies is the semifinals with 17 balls to spare. a boundary-hitting team. We know the “I’ve always stressed that the talent we power we have in the dressing room. We’ll World T20 final have in the changing room, the hard work focus on England but more or less focus on KOLKATA: England take on the West Indies in the put in, the key component within that has us and we believe if we do what West World Twenty20 final in Kolkata today. Below we take a been the mindset. The mindset of the play- Indies can do best, we’ll always be destruc- look both sides’ key batsman, all-rounder and spinner. ers, the mindset of the backroom staff and tive in this format,” Sammy said. West Indies it has rubbed off on everybody. I think defeated England, defending champion Sri CHRIS GAYLE AND JOE ROOT tomorrow the opportunity we do have is a Lanka and South Africa in group games but product of that,” he said. fell to a surprise seven-run loss to qualifier Today’s final is likely to be Chris Gayle’s last at the Morgan was all praise for the pace bowl- Afghanistan. World T20 as he’ll be 40 when the next edition comes ing pair of Ben Stokes and , In the semifinals, it defeated favorite around. The explosive batsman is the Windies’ who have been clinical in the death overs. India by seven wickets with Lendl Simmons biggest and most recognisable star. His lightning “It’s a small ground here given that it could producing an unbeaten 82. —AP century against England earlier in the tournament, which included 11 sixes, left Eoin Morgan’s side shell- shocked. But the left-hander has played a bit part since then, picking up only nine runs, on the Windies’ run to the final and he may feel he has a point to prove-making him even more dangerous. England possess their own match-winner in classy batsman Joe Root. The 25-year-old is proving himself to be one of the most accomplished stroke players in the game, showing poise and composure in pressure moments. His 83 against South Africa in the group stages was one of the most impressive knocks of the tournament and fired England to their highest-ever run chase in T20 cricket as they stunned the Proteas with just two balls to spare. The calming influence of the right-hander, who bats at number three, will be KOLKATA: West Indies cricketer bowls during a practice session key to England’s chances of a second World T20 title. ahead of the World T20 women’s final against , at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata yesterday. — AFP AND BEN STOKES The West Indies and England boast the two most dangerous all-rounders in Twenty20 cricket in Andre Windies eye history against Russell and Ben Stokes. Russell, who came into the tournament on the back of reports that he three Aussies in women’s T20 final missed drug tests, proved his hitting prowess with a 43-run blitz against India, including a big six on the KOLKATA: West Indies captain Stafanie overwhelming favourite to win today, third-last ball of the semi-final that sent his team into Taylor said yesterday the team had “noth- having beaten the West Indies in all their the final. The right-arm fast-medium bowler, who ing to lose” against three-time champi- eight previous T20 Internationals, but sports an orange mohawk haircut, has bagged eight ons Australia in the women’s World Lanning is wary of the challenge. “We’re wickets so far and is one of the most dangerous in Twenty20 final in Kolkata. Making their expecting a really tough battle tomorrow Darren Sammy’s arsenal. Stokes has been equally first T20 final after failing in the last three and the West Indies will certainly come crucial to England’s advance to the final. The left- semi-final attempts, Windies women out firing so we’re looking forward to the handed batsman, who bowls right-handed, has been have a chance to enter the history books challenge and make sure we’re right to compared to Ian Botham and has helped his team with the men’s team battling England for go right from the start,” said Lanning on get over the line in a couple of crunch games with the big prize later today. It can be a rare Saturday. Australia have peaked at the near-perfect death bowling. Stokes, who has an array hat-trick of titles for Windies cricket with right time after losing to the Kiwis in the of tattoos and who broke his wrist once punching a the Under-19 boys lifting the youth league and displayed its prowess with a locker, also has the ability to chip in with big hits in World Cup in February. five-run win over old foe England in New the middle-order, supplementing England’s new and “It’s the first final for us. I know there’s Delhi on Wednesday. aggressive brand of cricket. going to be some nerves around Lanning said the entire team was because it’s the first time but we just “excited” about playing the final at the AND have to embrace it, just try to be calm iconic Eden Gardens. Both West Indies and England have also got spin and composed and just go out there and aces up their sleeve in Samuel Badree and Moeen Ali. fight for it,” Stafanie told reporters on the Teams (from): Leg-spinner Badree was the only bowler to hold his eve of the final today. Australia: (capt), Kristen own with figures of 1-26 when the rest of the West “But we are not intimidated by them. Beams, , , Indian attack got a pasting by Indian batsmen in the They have won three titles, we have Lauren Cheatle, , , semi-final. Having bagged seven wickets in five out- nothing to lose. We need to be positive , , , ings, Badree can certainly make a difference on an and relaxed.” The fifth-ranked West Indies , , , Eden Gardens track that is known to turn. Off-spinner built a steady momentum to bring out , . Ali is also not far behind with five wickets and his their best in the semi-final against a New West Indies: (capt), knack of providing vital breakthroughs makes him a Zealand side that had emerged , Shemaine Campbelle, great attack force for England. Ali’s flexibility in taking unscathed in the league. Shamilia Connell, , up any batting position also provides skipper Eoin The Meg Lanning-led Australia is on Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Stacy-Ann Morgan with options to experiment in the shorter familiar ground after winning three King, Kyshona Knight, Kycia Knight, format. Ali’s calmness to hit the winning run from the straight titles but the skipper admitted , , KOLKATA: Air hostesses rehearse a Bollywood dance routine for the final during a third-last ball in England’s sensational victory empha- that “tomorrow is a new day”. If records Shaquana Quintyne, , West Indies training session at The Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium in Kolkata yester- sised his importance to the side. — AFP day. — AFP alone mattered, Australia would be the Tremayne Smartt. — AFP