KOLKATA: West Indies hero Carlos Brathwaite revealed on Monday he had mishit one of the massive sixes which clinched World Twenty20 trophy as he commiserated with Ben Stokes for mauling his bowling.
The 27-year-old Brathwaite pummelled four sixes in a row at the start of the last over in Sunday night’s final to dramatically deny England victory at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
His third six over long off brought the scores level and took the game away from England once and for all.
In an interview, Brathwaite said he had followed his partner Marlon Samuels’ advice to ‘swing for the hills’. He described the shot that sailed several rows back in one of the stands as ‘a mishit’.
“I miscued the third one, but a 65-metre six and a 94-metre six are still six runs,” said Brathwaite. “I just got it over, kind of spooned it over long-off. And then, I knew the West Indies are world champions, but I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself.”
With only one run needed off three deliveries, the rest of the team gathered around the boundary rope and then surged onto the field in jubilation as the fourth ball also went for six.
Brathwaite called Stokes “an absolute legend in his own right”. “Cricket could be a cruel game,” he said.
“You shouldn’t forget what he has done for England in the past couple of months... To Ben, tough luck last night, commiserations to you and the England team.
“Wish he has a long and successful career ahead of him.”
Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2016
