India won the ninth edition of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final at Kensington Oval this afternoon.
India scored 176 for seven wickets after winning the toss and deciding to bat, they were wobbling at 23 for two after Keshar Maharaj picked up two wickets with the second and sixth balls of his first over.
The left-arm spinner had Rohit Sharma caught Hendricks Klaasen for nine and forced Rishabh Pant to play the ball into the gloves of the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck.
Suryakumar Yadav fell in the fifth over for three runs, caught by Heinrich Klassen on the leg-side rope off fast bowler Kagiso Rabada which left the Indians in a fragile position at 34 for three.
Axar Patel joined Virat Kohli at the crease and the pair went about repairing the damage with a busy 72 run partnership, with Patel smashing 47 from just 31 deliveries which included one four and five sixes before his lack of awareness and de Kock’s accuracy resulted in him being run out with the score 106 for four.

Kohli, the Player of the Match, featured in another half century partnership of 58, this time with Shivam Dube. He made the eventual top score of 76 with six fours and two sixes before his gem of innings ended when he was caught by Rabada of left arm seamer Marco Jansen in the 17th over.
After Kohl’s wicket at 163 for five, Shivam Dube holed out to David Miller five balls and11 runs later to pacer Anrich Nortje for 27, Dube counted three fours and one six in his entertaining innings, Nortje also claimed the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja of the of the final ball of the innings. Maharaj was the pick of the Proteas bowlers with two wickets for 23 runs from three overs.
Chasing 177 runs for victory and their first ICC title, South Africa were restricted to 169 for eight, their innings began badly losing two wickets for 12 runs in the third over; opener Reeza Hendricks was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for four and Aiden Markham made four.
Quinton de Kock (39) and Tristan Stubbs repaired the damage with a third wicket partnership of 58, after the dismissal of de Kock and Stubbs, a quickfire 52 off 27 balls with five sixes and two fours from Heinrick Klaasen give South Africa hope.
India appeared to have miscalculated when South Africa needed 30 runs off the same number of balls, but captain Sharma turned to Bumrah and the ace fast bowler stepped up to the plate, he conceded six runs in two overs.
Hardik Pandya was India’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 20 runs, Arshdeep Singh took two for 20, and Bumrah, the Play of the Tournament captured two for 18.
The match, the 100th T20 game to be played at the Oval was before a capacity crowd which included the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, the president of Guyana Irfaan Ali, the Prime Minister of St Lucia Pierre Philips, and former West Indies captain and National Hero of Barbados the Right Excellent Sir Garry Sobers. (article by David Harris)

The Barbados Police Service (TBPS), in collaboration with the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), has welcomed a contingent of 60 police officers and soldiers from within the Regional Security System (RSS).

The contingent of RSS support personnel was sworn in as Special Constables in an Official Swearing In and Briefing Ceremony on Wednesday, June 26, at the Police Band Headquarters, Prince Cave Hall, District ‘A’ Complex, Station Hill, St. Michael.

The officers arrived on the island to support the country’s effort in policing the finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final on Saturday, June 29, at Kensington Oval.

The Administration of TBPS and the BDF, wish to express their gratitude to the RSS Officers for their commitment and co-operation in this joint venture.

It is anticipated that the general public will interact with these officers in and around the environs of Kensington Oval.

Friday night was epic! Roston Chase starred with the ball and Shai Hope made an entertaining half century to guide the West Indies nine wicket victory against the United States in their Super 8 encounter of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup before a full house at Kensington Oval on Friday night.
The United States were bowled out for 128 in 19.5 overs after the West Indies won the toss and opted to field; the American team wobble to 48 for one at the end of the first power play and never recovered from the shaky start. Opener Andries Gous scored 29, Nitish Kumar 19, and Shadley Schalkwyk contributed 18.
Chase, the Player of the Match picked up three wickets for 19 runs from four overs with his off-spin, and seamer Andre Russel captured three for 31, while fast bowler Alzarri Joseph chipped in with two wickets.

Chasing 129 runs for their first victory in Super 8, the West Indies raced to 130 for one wicket in 10.5 overs; Hope made an unbeaten 82 runs from 32 balls, the elegant right –handed batsman struck eight sixes and strokes four fours, Nicholas Pooran hit a quick fire 27 that contained three sixes off 12 balls, and Johnson Charles contributed 15.
Over 14,000 fans watched the match, before the game started, they were treated to a sterling rendition of the official West Indies Cricket Anthem by the composer of the song calypsonian David Rudder.
The West Indies next match is against South Africa at the Sir Vivian Richards in Antigua tonight, Sunday June 23rd at 8.30 pm.