West Indies beat Australia to lift Women's World T20 trophy

Kolkata - West Indies Women beat Australia by eight wickets to win their maiden World T20 title.

A little before 6 pm Indian time, Dwayne 'DJ' Bravo's song 'Champion' rung around the Eden Gardens.

There was still an hour left to go for the World Twenty20 final between England and the West Indies but the song, which has now caught on with the fans, was played out for the West Indies women's team.

After getting past the semifinal hurdle at the fifth time of asking, the West Indian women conquered the Australians to land the women's World Twenty20 title at this iconic venue.

They had halted the Australians, who had won three pieces of silverware on the bounce. The West Indies women broke into a jig soon after they were presented with the trophy and a fine display of fireworks lit up the twilight.

It was a culmination of all the hard work, dedication and the belief but perhaps, more pertinently, that they had come out with flying colours after the odds that were stacked against West Indies cricket as a whole.

The cricketing world is well aware of what West Indies cricket has been going through for quite some time now, the management, the whole system. They also have not been helped by a lean supply of talent coming through the ranks.

The West Indies women's title triumph was not just about silverware, it was about them punching above the weight to be noticed. It was about honour and pride.

And the hunger that they displayed, showed how much they really wanted it and how much it meant to them.

After getting past New Zealand in the last four, the West Indies, taking inspiration from the men's team, came primed to take on the Aussies.

And they didn't let up, taking the bull by the horns. This was their best chance and the West Indian women made sure that it would count.

Deandra Jalisa Shakira Dottin, the 24-year-old pacer from Barbados put the skids on Australia with two wickets as the defending champions were kept down to 148 for five in their allotment.

Australia's total was down to their captain Meg Lanning's 49-ball 52 and opener Elyse Villani's 52 from 37 balls. Ellyse Perry came up with a little cameo of 28 from 23 balls.

But the target was to prove to be a tad short, which Lanning did admit later.

The 18-year-old Hayley Matthews, the find for the West Indies during the tournament, and her captain and fellow opener Stafanie Taylor went about West Indies' dig with purpose and took the game away from the Australians.

The pair had knocked up 120 runs before Matthews fine innings of 66 from 45 balls was brought to an end by Kristen Beams. Matthews was adjudged the Player of the Match.

Taylor got them close to the line but couldn't see them through after she was dismissed for 59. Taylor, with 246 runs at an average of 41, was the Player of the Tournament.

Australia still sensed a chance with three needed from the last over. And it would have an astonishing jailbreak had they managed to pull it off.

But the West Indies snuffed those thoughts to win by eight wickets.

The West Indies women were inspired by their Under-19 team, which won the World Cup and their men's team. As they celebrated moments after completing the win, they were joined by few members of the men's team like captain Darren Sammy and Andre Russell as well as few of the support staff.

There were hugs exchanged as 'Champion' played out and they danced away. A West Indies double had been sealed.

It was the first win for the West Indies over Australia in nine T20 Internationals and the first time a team outside Australia, England and New Zealand won a major women's world title.

Later, the men could perhaps cap off a fine night with a West Indies treble and 'Champion' could be played out again.

james@khaleejtimes.com