This was the big battle between the team that has perfected the art of keeping its composure under pressure, and a side rich in explosive talent, but that can blow hot and blow cold. India v West Indies, in the second semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20, was hyped up as a cracker whose destination, it was believed, would be dictated as much by which of Virat Kohli or Chris Gayle would have the better evening, as which team addressed its disciplines better. Kohli comprehensively shaded the big West Indian opener on Thursday (March 31), but India, error-prone and perhaps overcome by the occasion, still came up short as the Caribbean side found heroes of its own, most notably late replacement Lendl Simmons who would be well advised to buy a lottery ticket. At his adopted Wankhede Stadium home, on a surface that he knows exceedingly well and which played true for the entire duration of the match, Simmons rode his luck – he was caught off no-balls from R Ashwin and Hardik Pandya when 18 and 50 respectively – but also showcased extraordinary power-hitting skills to turn a stiff run-chase into a walk in the park.
Britney Cooper’s stroke-filled 48-ball 61 and a superb all-round display from Stafanie Taylor provided West Indies Women with the inspiration for a six-run victory over New Zealand Women, as it reached the final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 for the first time after three consecutive semifinal defeats. Having made 143 for 6 in the allotted overs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday (March 31), West Indies kept its composure well enough to stymie New Zealand at every critical juncture. Taylor’s 3 for 26 proved crucial, especially after West Indies had handled Leigh Kasperek and Erin Bermingham, two of the competition’s standout spinners, with ease. Shamilia Connell gave West Indies the perfect start with the ball, pegging back Rachel Priest’s off-stump in her second over. But both she and Deandra Dottin offered too much width, and Sophie Devine cashed in with carves and cuts either side of point. When Taylor then introduced the legspin of Hayley Matthews, Suzie Bates stroked one through cover.
Superstar paceman Mitchell Starc is set to make his long-awaited comeback for Australia in their tour of the West Indies in June. Starc has been absent since breaking down against New Zealand in the third Test in Adelaide last November but has completed rehabilitation from surgery to remove spurs in his ankle and a separate operation to fix a fracture in his foot. The 26-year-old was sorely missed during the World T20, as Australia suffered a shock exit in the Super 10 stage. The tri-series against the West Indies and South Africa is an ideal opportunity for Starc to test his fitness ahead of Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka in July. Rod Marsh, National selector, said Starc was fit enough to spearhead Australia's attack. "Mitchell has progressed very well in his rehab and the medical staff are confident he will be fit to play in this series," he said on Wednesday (March 30) after the squad for the next international assignment was announced. "It's extremely pleasing to have a bowler of his calibre back in the side."
West Indies have been the eternal bridesmaids at the Women's World T20. Having failed to get past the semi-final stage in three previous attempts, they have a fourth chance at redemption when they take on Suzie Bates' New Zealand, who are in rip-roaring form, having won all their group games with a touch of disdain. West Indies received a wake-up call in the one-wicket loss to England that left the team shattered. But the manner in which they put the loss behind them and knocked India Women out in a high-pressure game in Mohali showed the team's character. When in form, they are one of the more watchable teams - their batsmen can make the ridiculously long boundaries look short, their athleticism has the typical Caribbean punch and they celebrate like no other team. These skills will be put to test against a side whose road to the final four has had little to do with luck or accident.
India will travel to the Caribbean later this summer to play a four-Test series, Dave Cameron, the WICB president, has confirmed. The announcement puts an end to the uncertainty that has surrounded the series - listed on the ICC's Future Tours Programme - ever since the BCCI suspended bilateral engagements as a penalty for West Indies' abandoning of their tour to India mid-way in late 2014.
Although no dates have been fixed, Cameron said the Test series would be spread over July and August. What that means, however, is that the tour would clash with, and disrupt, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which is likely to begin in late June, and finish in the first week of August. "The official word is that the tour is on," Cameron told Cricket Radio in Nagpur on Sunday. "We are just awaiting confirmation of the venues now. And once we have done that, we will send out a release with the dates, the venues and everything."
