Carlos Brathwaite heroics give West Indies dramatic T20 World Cup final win

Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes in the final over from Ben Stokes to win the T20 World Cup for the West Indies against England.

England were under pressure from the start of the match, when Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to put them into bat, as there was a disastrous start with Jason Roy was bowled by Samuel Badree for a duck, and Andre Russell then taking Alex Hales’ wicket for just one run.

Joe Root and Jos Buttler put England back into contention for the match, with Buttler contributing 36 runs off 22 deliveries, and Root getting 54 off 36.

But wickets kept falling at regular intervals as the Windies kept on the pressure, breaking out into dance to celebrate the fall of key wickets, and with three overs and three wickets remaining, England's total stood at just 131.

David Willey then fell on 22 at 136-8 with a slog that fell short of the boundary to be claimed by Johnson Charles’ catch. Badree took a catch off Liam Plunkett at 142-9, which appeared to injure his wrist in the process, forcing him to leave the pitch.

Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan provided a late rally to leave England on 155-9.

West Indies started their innings as strong favourites, but Joe Root dismissed Johnson Charles for one, and then Gayle for four to leave them on 5-2. When Lendl Simmons fell for a duck, it left the Windies on 11-3.

England almost had their rivals on the ropes when Marlon Samuels was given out on 27, with the score set to turn to 37-4, but Buttler was ruled to have grounded the catch. Samuels would go on to score 85 off 66.

Another drop cost England when Sam Billings - a sub fielder and a wicket keeper by trade - dropped Dwayne Bravo on 69-3.

Bravo was eventually caught for 25 by Root from Rashid’s bowling, and that marked the turning point of the West Indies’ innings as they chased the total. With five overs remaining, they needed 52, but Stokes took a catch to dismiss Andre Russell attempting a six.

England then had the West Indies on 107-6 as David Lilley claimed another wicket when Darren Sammy hoiked to Hales on the boundary. England and West Indies then went toe to toe, a mixture of aggressive batting and urgent fielding, with Chris Jordan’s over leaving a required target of 19 off six deliveries.

It was Stokes who took the final over. The first delivery went for a six. It was now 13 from five. Another six from Brathwaite reduced it to seven from four. Another six, three in a row. A single run was required from the final three deliveries. It took just one more delivery, and Brathwaite hit his fourth consecutive six.

Windies won the final, leaving their T20 record against England as five victories, no defeats, and they became the first side to win the T20 World Cup twice.

Instead of accepting the plaudits for his match-winning display, Brathwaite lavished praise on Samuels, who also played a starring role in his side's World Twenty20 win four years ago.

"Today Marlon Samuels, after a slow start, took responsibility right away and played a fantastic knock," Brathwaite told Sky Sports 2.

"He did it in 2012 and I knew as long as he was there at the end he would bring us home again in 2016."

West Indies captain Darren Sammy was thrilled with his side's win.

He added: "I'm really happy for this win and it's something we're going to cherish for a long time.

"In every game, somebody stepped up and took responsibility and to see Carlos play like that in his debut World (Twenty20), it's just tremendous.

"It shows the depth we have in the Caribbean in T20 cricket and hopefully with the right structure and development, our cricket will continue to improve in one day and Test cricket."

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen had words of consolation for Ben Stokes after the West Indies' stunning World Twenty20 victory in Kolkata.

Carlos Brathwaite hit England all-rounder Stokes for four successive sixes in the final over as the West Indies beat England by four wickets at Eden Gardens.

Pietersen, who this time last year was attempting to rejoin the England squad, wrote on Twitter: "Just a hiccup, @benstokes38! Happens to all great players who put their hands up under pressure! You are a STAR! Braithwaite take a bow!"

BBC Test Match Special's Jonathan Agnew believes it will take Stokes some time to get over the disappointment.

He said: "It happens so fast. One minute you think you are winning and then the next minute, it all changes.

"Stokes is a tough character but it is going to take a bit to come back from that."

Many thought the format was the winner after a compelling final which had plenty of twists and turns.

Vic Marks said on Test Match Special: "It was a staggeringly good final and a very good tournament.

"I feel desperately sorry for England who played so tenaciously to get back into the match, and especially Ben Stokes.

"On the other hand you have to admire Brathwaite and the way he finished the game."

Australia great Shane Warne, who was rebuked by man of the match Marlon Samuels for his criticisms of the West Indies, wrote on Twitter: "Seen a lot of things over 25 yrs being involved in international cricket. But nothing quite like that finish to a game 6 6 6 6 congrats WI !"