West Indies Crowned ICC Twenty20 World Cup Winners

Winners of ICC World t20, West Indies
Celebrating with a "GangnamStyle " dance

In one of the most electrifying match that cricket have ever seen, West Indies bowled themselves into the winners rows of World Twenty20 ICC cricket champions. Darren Sammy's West Indies were crowned the new World Twenty20 champions on Sunday after a 36-run victory over hosts Sri Lanka in a dramatic final in Colombo. 

West Indies, lefts the ICC Twenty20 Cricket Trophy

The entire team was dancing and entertaining the crowd with the Gangnam style Dance bringing their best balling in the final, winning a tense finale even after Chris Gayle didn't fire. Samuels, Narine, Sammy have all played their part and this victory will do a lot of good both to West Indies cricket and world cricket.

The West Indies, restricted to 137-6 after electing to bat, hit back to bowl Sri Lanka out for 101 and silence a sell-out crowd of 35,000 at the Premadasa stadium that included President Mahinda Rajapakse.

It was the first world title for the West Indies since the 50-over World Cup triumph under Clive Lloyd in 1979, and handed Sri Lanka their fourth defeat in a major final since 2007.

Spinner Sunil Narine grabbed three wickets for nine runs and Sammy took two as the hosts, who had excelled in the field in the first session, undid the good work with irresponsible batting in the second.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene survived two dropped catches to top-score with 33, while tailender Nuwan Kulasekara hit 26 off 13 balls, including three fours and a six in the 16th over of seamer Ravi Rampaul.

Sri Lanka's unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis had taken four wickets for 12 runs as the West Indies collapsed once Chris Gayle was removed in the sixth over for only three runs.

Sad Face of Sri Lanka's Supporter 

Marlon Samuels was the only batsman to defy the spot-on Sri Lankan bowling, making 78 off 56 balls with the help of six sixes and three boundaries.

His brilliant strokeplay helped the West Indies add 105 runs in the last 10 overs after they were reduced to 32-2 from the first 10.

Sri Lanka lost opener Tillakaratne Dilshan in the second over before Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara added 42 for the second wicket.

The hosts were cruising at 48-1 in the 10th over when the West Indies bounced back by claiming four wickets for 13 runs.

Sangakkara holed out in the deep off Samuel Badree for 22, Angelo Mathews was bowled by Darren Sammy, Jayawardene was caught off a reverse sweep and Jeevan Mendis ran himself out.

Sri Lanka had taken an early grip on the match by keeping the West Indies down to 14-2 in the first six powerplay overs after Johnson Charles had been dismissed off the fifth ball of the match.

The West Indies had to wait till the 19th delivery to score their first run with the bat and Gayle needed nine balls to get off the mark.

The left-hander struggled for 16 deliveries to make three before he was trapped leg-before by Mendis in the sixth over.

West Indies Celebrating their Victory
after winning the ICC Twenty20 Final

It was not till the 12th over that the West Indies, who had pummelled Australia in the semi-finals, showed the first signs of aggression as Dwayne Bravo pulled 19-year-old spinner Akila Dananjaya for a six over mid-wicket.

Samuels responded by smashing three sixes in the next over of sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, two of them in succession over mid-wicket and extra-cover.

Bravo helped Samuels add 59 runs for the third wicket when he was given out leg-before by Australian umpire Simon Taufel, even though replays showed the ball go off the bat on to the pad.

The 17th over, bowled by Malinga, produced 19 runs as Samuels smashed a boundary and two consecutive sixes to leave the frontline bowler with unflattering figures of 0-54 from his four overs.

Sri Lanka have now lost two successive 50-over World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011 and two World Twenty20 finals in 2009 and 2012.

West Indies partying with Manager Richie Richardson

Olympic Monitor: Lalonde Flash Gordon Wins T&T's First Medal in London 2012

Lolonde Gordon, Mens 400m Bronze Medallist

With an Impressive show at the London 2012 Olympics, Lalonde Gordon ran another personal best to grab Tobago's first ever Olympics Medal. Gordon claimed bronze in the Men's 400m Final as he got to the line in 43.52, he was behind Grenadian Kirani James (43.94) and Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos (44.46). James is the first ever Olympic medallist from Grenada.

Lalonde Gordon, who hails from Lowlands Tobago, migrated at 2 years and currently lives in the United States. Considered an underdog, Gordon shocked the entire nation with his stunning performance, sending the entire country in jubilation as T&T was desperate to continue the medal streak  at the Olympics since Ato Bolton winnings in 1996.

Meanwhile, Grenada would be ecstatic as they have now engrave their names in Olympic history. James just only 19 years old won Grenada's first and only medal at an Olympics, and what a way to do it by producing Gold. He is now the 10th man to run sub 44 in the mens 400m.  James short for words, couldn't quantify how his people would be feeling. He stated “What this means to my country, right now, I can’t explain,” except to say that the whole country will be going crazy.” 

History for Tobago, and History for Grenada, two small islands that would be flowing with pride and joy on the return of each athlete. 

Congratulations is extended to all the athletes who ran in the mens 400's. But special Congratulations to the 'Man of the Day' Lalonde Gordon, you did Trinidad and Tobago proud, but I cannot quantify the joy of all Tobagonians who have waited years for this day. We have produced a world class athlete, and you have placed us not only on the map but also down in history. Congratulations We are proud of you. Tobago is Proud of you. 

Olympic Monitor: Thompson 7th , Usian Bolt Runs New Olympic Record

In one of the most electrifying race of all time, the 100 meter Finals at the London Olympics did not fail to feature the 'Top Guns'. Lineing up were Usian Bolt, Tyson Gay, Asapa Powell, Justing Gatling, Yohan Blake, Ryan Bailey, Churandy Martina and our very own Richard Thompson. However, Bolt outraced his opponents, winning in an Olympic-record 9.63 seconds crushing his own 9.68 set back in 2008 Beijing Games. Yohan Blake’s cupped silver in  9.75, while the United States sprinter Justin Gatlin grabbed bronze in  9.79.

Trinidad and Tobago's silver medalist 2008 Richard Thompson could only place 7th with a 9.98 in front of an "injured" Asafa Powell of Jamaica clocking 11.99.

There could be no stopping the King of track, Bolt emphatically confirmed his status, ans set his name above all as the greatest sprinter in history as he retained his Olympic 100m title in peerless fashion.

Making history again he now holds the three fastest times in the 100 meters. Bolt in an interview stated "I was happy when I went out in the first round, I felt I could do this. I was slightly worried about my start. I didn't want to false start again so I sat in the blocks a little bit.
"It wasn't the best reaction in the world but I executed it and that was the key. My coach said 'stop worrying about the start because the best part of your race is the end'. It worked.
"I said it on the track, people can talk, but when it comes to championships it is all about business for me and I brought it. It was wonderful. I knew [the crowd] would be like this, I can feel that energy and I am extremely happy."

Its seems that there is no stopping this superman. For Trinidad and Tobago its back to the drawing board. We salute our athletes for their enormous efforts and we join in the celebration of our Caribbean brothers.

All Hail the King of Track, Usian Lightening Bolt.

Olympic Monitor: 6th Place for Kelly Ann Baptiste

Although Kelly Ann produced the best ever Olympic performance by a woman athlete from Trinidad and Tobago, it was not enough to capture gold as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wouldn't have it any other way than to ensure the Gold medal stays in Jamaica. 

A golden ribbon in her hair, the bubbly Jamaican made it back-to-back Olympic titles in the women's 100 meters Saturday night, closing ground over the last 20 meters and leaning at the line to win in 10.75 seconds and edge American Carmelita Jeter by .03 seconds.

Fraser-Pryce became the first woman to repeat in the 100 since Gail Devers of the U.S. in 1992 and 1996. 

Trinidad and Tobago's sprinter, Kelly Ann Baptiste stated that "everything happens for a reason," applauding Shelly Ann Fraser.  "It just shows what champions are made of. To be able to win successive Olympic titles, that's no easy feat. Hats off to her." said Baptiste. 

Running out of lane two, it was difficult for Baptiste to keep pace with the championship leaders. Stating that she could do better, Baptiste tried hard to contain her self, stating that 'I know I'm a better athlete". 

Semoy Hackett, another Trinidad and Tobago sprinter was unable to reproduce her personal best 11.04 seconds clocking from round one,finishing fifth in the opening semifinal heat in 11.26.

"The race wasn't properly distributed," she told the Sunday Express.

"At ten metres I felt I was too low. I felt I was going to fall, so I tried to get up and sprint to catch the pack. It was not as good as I wanted the race to be. I was satisfied with the 11.04 from (Friday), and I was trying to execute this race the same way, but unfortunately I didn't do it.

"I'm trying to make the final for the 200," Hackett continued, "hopefully medal, and then go on to the relay."

Michelle-Lee Ahye also bowed out in the semifinal round of the 100m dash, the 20-year-old T&T athlete finishing eighth in semifinal number three in 11.32 seconds.

"My first Olympics…I'm young. So I'm not really worried. Bigger and better things for Worlds."

Baptiste is also hoping for an improved performance at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

"I have a lot to prove to myself. The battle is within me and my abilities, and what I think I'm capable of. World Championships next year, that's my aim," Baptiste ended. "I'm just going to keep on working harder."

Olympic Monitor :- George Bovell Heads To 50 Metre Finals

George Richard Bovell 3rd has freestyled himself into the finals of the men's 50 metre freestyle. Swimming out of lane three bovell clocked a time of 21.77 to win his heat and advance to the semi finals. Bovell then swam the same to place 2nd and advances to the Finals. 

He is set to be in action just about 6 am local time, where he would be among the favorites to medal. However, he must fight off America's Cullen Jones and Brazil's Cesar Cielo the fastest qualifiers, if he must snatch the Gold tomorrow. The Eyes of Trinidad and Tobago would be on you George Bovell, make your country proud, 1.3 million people are back home supporting you. 

All the Best. Go Bovell Go.