ICC

The ICC World Twenty20 final takes centre stage on Sunday, as the West Indies face England in Kolkata for the right to be crowned champions.

England made it to the tournament climax with a hugely impressive win over the previously untouchable New Zealand, while the West Indies chased down 192 to knock out host nation India in their semi-final clash.

These sides have already met at the World T20 2016 back in Group 1 of the Super 10, and they served up a thrilling spectacle on that occasion. Chris Gayle chalked up a ruthless century to give the West Indies the perfect start to the competition.

Here we look ahead to Sunday’s showdown and assess which nation could be lifting the trophy.

Date: Sunday April 3

Time: 2:30 p.m. BST

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Live Stream: Sky Go (U.K. only)

England have something of a reputation for losing their bottle when it matters most, but this year’s World T20 has gone some way to proving that they can do the business on the big stage.

The way they performed against New Zealand in the semi-final was nothing short of exemplary—making a top team look ordinary.

According to Lawrence Booth of MailOnline, the Eden Gardens surface will have a light covering of grass in order to avoid a slow-turner.

Eoin Morgan’s men had plenty of joy in similar conditions in Delhi, although the bowling will need to be at their very best to see off a confident West Indies side.

Gayle was the difference between these teams back in the group stage, but his early dismissal against India gave the West Indies the chance to showcase the rest of their lethal armoury.

Lendl Simmons led the West Indian charge in the semi-final, as he produced an incredible knock of 82 from just 51 balls to silence the home crowd.

Gayle will undoubtedly be motivated after drawing blanks against Afghanistan and India, so the way England bowl will be very important.

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara agrees, as he told Sky Sports that the final will be won and lost in the field:

“Both teams have explosive hitters so the bowling is going to be the issue—whoever bowls the best, executes in the first six overs, controls the middle and bowls exceptionally at the death will probably win.”

England bowled brilliantly against both Afghanistan and New Zealand, and Morgan has enough tactical nous to get his combinations right on the day. And the batting order isn’t exactly in bad form, either.

Opener Jason Roy was almost unplayable in the semi-final, as his knock of 78 from 44 balls gave England the perfect platform from which to go on and earn a place in the final. The nation’s official Twitter account displayed some of the 25-year-old’s tournament highlights:

The in-form batsman’s performance could be imperative for England once again, as they’ll likely need a big score to get the better of the West Indies.

However, a big score wasn’t enough to topple them back in the Group 1 clash, as the West Indies brilliantly put the English to the sword.

Even so, captain Darren Sammy is taking nothing for granted, as he told BBC Sport that England are a team to be feared:

England is a team we respect. We know the calibre of players they have in the dressing room, they have a lot of match-winners as well. Since that loss to us, England have moved in leaps and bounds, that's why they are in the final. I always want cricket to be the winner and hope the fans are entertained and it will be a very exciting match, but at the end I just want West Indies to be victorious.

Indeed, an entertaining encounter looks all but guaranteed in Kolkata.

The team that lifts the trophy will be the one that gets the tactics right in the field. It’s all set to be a thriller.

The results at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, have offered up something of a mixed bag during the course of the World Twenty20. Scores have ranged from mammoth to modest, but one thing that has remained constant is the slower bowlers—be that medium-pace bowlers or spinners—have had the most success here.

But that doesn't mean you have to be a big turner of the ball to be effective. Samuel Badree has proved as much and boasts some impressive figures in this tournament. He's taken seven wickets in five matches with an average of 15.42 and economy rate of 5.68.

That the West Indies and England have met in this tournament already will help a bit, and even if Badree did not pick up a single wicket against England when the two sides played each other in the group stages, he did play a vital role truncating the flow of runs early on. In that match, he conceded just 34 runs in his four overs.

As a leg-spinner, variety is his main weapon, and he bowls tightly with just enough pace and bounce to keep the batsmen guessing.

What is perhaps even more remarkable about the 35-year-old's exploits is that he has hardly played in the Indian Premier League. He's bowled just 18 overs in the tournament in total, but that has not had an impact on how he approaches the game.

Prior to this tournament, he had not played for the West Indies since 2014, but that has hardly mattered.

Far more important is that he understands his role as an opening bowler. He is considered one of the most successful bowlers in the powerplay and said after the West Indies' victory over Sri Lanka that adapting is key.

He was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo's Nagraj Gollapudi as saying: "We have seen in the first couple of games that I have started then I am held back for a couple in the middle as well. We have seen how important spin is especially after the Powerplay during the middle overs when the ball is a little bit older."

In that match, he took three for 12, and although that wasn't enough to earn him a man-of-the-match award, those gongs aren't always an indication of how well a player has performed.

He has stepped up to fill the void left by Sunil Narine's absence, and he has done so without much fuss. His subdued approach is the perfect balance in a West Indies side that has plenty of big personalities.

Against an aggressive England batting lineup, limiting the destruction in the first few overs will be key, and that is something Badree has done consistently throughout the tournament. As part of a bowling partnership—where one bowler keeps things tight, allowing the other to pounce and get wickets—Badree has been unmatched in the World T20.

Sure, other players might play a more flamboyant knock with boundaries galore, but the value of a player that is confident and skilled in his craft should not be underestimated.

There were party scenes at the West Indies team hotel in Mumbai on Thursday, as the players were welcomed back by huge crowds following their World Cup Twenty20 semi-final win over India.

The victorious players knew just how to work the crowd, with Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy leading the way with their famed Champions Dance.

Star batsman Chris Gayle was also as popular as ever, signing autographs for the fans who had come out to celebrate.

Just hours earlier it was Lendl Simmons who played the hero, hitting 82 off 51 balls to help the underdogs overhaul India's daunting total of 192/2. 

The Windies will now travel to Kolkata, where they face England in Sunday's final.

[Twitter]

India may have crashed out of the World Twenty20 on Friday thanks to a stunning comeback from the West Indies, but captain MS Dhoni was still in good spirits in the aftermath.

 After the semi-final defeat on home soil, Dhoni was asked if he had any plans to retire by a journalist. 

What happened next is all class. 

Dhoni invites the journalist up to the podium and tells him they're going to have some fun. 

He asks the journalist if he thinks Dhoni is still fit and could survive the 2019 World Cup, to which the journalist replies, "sure, yes." 

Question answered. 

Dhoni finishes by telling the writer that he wished he would have been an Indian journalist so that he could quiz him if he had any up-and-coming family members hoping to take his place. 

[YouTube, h/t Yahoo] 

Warning: The above video contains some NSFW language

There was some friendly fire during England's World Twenty20 semi-final against Australia on Wednesday, when Natalie Sciver was hit in the face by a throw from team-mate Katherine Brunt.

Sciver was walking back to her mark during the sixth over of the Australian innings, when Brunt's hasty throw caught her unaware and struck her on the side of the head.

Concerned team-mates—including Brunt—quickly rushed over to make sure the bowler was OK as she clutched her face and went to ground.

After a brief break, the 23-year-old got back to her feet...and immediately took a wicket with her next ball.

[h/t Mirror]

South Africa finished the group stage of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 with a win over Sri Lanka on Monday, their second of this year's tournament.  

The two teams were already eliminated coming into the match, and both were looking for a positive ending to what has been a thoroughly disappointing tournament.

South Africa's spinners ruled the day, as the bowlers held their opponents to just 120 runs. The Proteas' chase was a slow one, but the target of 121 was always in reach, and AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla got the job done in an eight-wicket victory.

Here's a look at the final group standings:

Here's the schedule for the knockout stage:

South Africa vs. Sri Lanka

South Africa, 122-2 (Amla 56, Abbott two for 14) beat Sri Lanka, 120 (Dilshan 36, Lakmal one for 28) by eight wickets (with 14 balls remaining)

For the full scorecard, click here. 

Sri Lanka started their innings well, as Dinesh Chandimal and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on 45 runs in five overs. The Proteas threw pace at the openers, with little success, and when the team shifted to spin, the tide turned almost immediately.

Aaron Phangiso, who gave up back-to-back fours with his first two deliveries, grabbed two quick wickets, including that of Chandimal, sparking a fantastic spell for South Africa's bowlers.

Imran Tahir contained the Sri Lankan batsmen for figures of 1-18 off his fours overs, while Kyle Abbott put together the Proteas' finest performance, taking 2-14.

As shared by Bet365, Sri Lanka's innings turned ugly in a hurry:

Dasun Shanaka padded Sri Lanka's total with an unbeaten 20 runs from 18 balls, but out of the team's final six batsmen, he was the only one to hit double-digits. The Lions also became the first team in this year's tournament to lose all 10 wickets when batting first.

Per cricket writer Peter Miller, the immediate future of Sri Lankan cricket looks ugly:

Quinton de Kock started the chase with two fours from the first two balls he faced, but the Proteas hit a snag soon after, as their star opener was run out after scoring nine from six balls.

Amla and Faf du Plessis settled in for the chase, but the two struggled to find the boundary in the early overs. Du Plessis hit just three fours and scored 31 from 36, before he was dismissed in the 13th. At that point, South Africa's run rate had fallen under six, and the team had taken just 32 runs from the last five overs.

De Villiers was called on to turn the tide, and Alt Cricket took the opportunity to express his disappointment at the decision to drop him in the order:

#SA's pre-tournament tactical slap in the face was when AB de Villiers opened with great success. So they dropped him to no. 4 for #WT20.

— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) March 28, 2016

De Villiers and Amla turned up the heat in the 16th and 17th overs, scoring sixes off Thisara Perera and Shanaka to push the required run rate under four and bring the Proteas to the verge of victory. A massive six from De Villiers ended the group stage and both teams' tournaments.

Amla finished with an unbeaten 56 from 52, while De Villiers chipped in a quick 20 runs from 12 balls. Suranga Lakmal was the only Sri Lankan bowler to be credited with a wicket, and while every bowler kept his economy rate in the single digits, it still wasn't a good showing for the defending champions.

Sri Lanka managed just two wins in the World T20 and ACC Asia Cup combined, and the team will have some tough questions to answer in the immediate future. With players like Dilshan and Rangana Herath close to retirement, things might get worse for the Lions before they get better.

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West Indies, safe in the knowledge they've qualified for the semi-finals, will look to finish the Super 10s with a perfect record when they face off against Afghanistan at Nagpur.

While the Associate Nation have already been eliminated, they did manage to run England close before falling by 15 runs.

Will the Caribbean Islanders take their eyes off the ball and allow the minnows to spring a huge surprise? Let's take a look at how the two sides are shaping up. 

Date: Sunday, 27 March

Time: 3:00 p.m. local (9:30 a.m. GMT)

Venue: VCA Stadium; Jamtha, Nagpur, India

Live Stream and TV Info: Fox Sports (Australia), DD National/Star Sports (India), GEO Super/PTV Sports (Pakistan), TNL TV (Sri Lanka), Star/Channel 9 (Bangladesh), Life OK (UK), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Yupptv.com (Live streaming service available in Europe).

Weather: According to BBC Weather, a volatile afternoon could be in store with sun, rain and even thunder set to make an appearance.

Overview

Both of these sides were involved in nail-biters last time out, but while the West Indies emerged triumphant, Afghanistan fell to their third consecutive defeat.

Despite these losses, the Afghans haven't been completely outclassed and should give their heavyweight opponents a run for their money here.

Their strength clearly lies in slow bowling, with Rashid Khan, Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi (see below) all enjoying the profuse spin on offer in India.

As well as being difficult to get away, this trio have taken 22 wickets between them and will put their opponents under heavy pressure. 

Things are less assured with the bat, as only skipper Asghar Stanikzai has managed to pass 50 in the Super 10s phase of the tournament.

If the likes of Stanikzai or the big-hitting Mohammad Shahzad can make a score, the Windies could find themselves under pressure.

From the Caribbean Islanders' point of view, given that they've already qualified for the semi-finals, motivation could be the biggest issue.

Additionally, if Chris Gayle fails, it will be interesting to see how they chase down a testing total.

But to be fair, while Gayle tends to monopolise the headlines, they are far from a one-man side with numerous players who have already chipped in during their campaign so far.

Andre Fletcher and Marlon Samuels have played crucial innings with the bat.

And, like many of the other spinners in the tournament, Samuel Badree and Sulieman Benn have been on fire, delivering miserly yet potent overs.

Backed up by the searing pace of Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo's bag of tricks, the West Indies should be too much for their lesser opponents...shouldn't they?

T20I head-to-head record and last meeting

The sides have never contested an official T20 International previously, but they did meet in a warm-up game for the 2012 World Twenty20. Thanks to Gayle's 65, the West Indies eased to an easy eight wicket win with over four overs to spare.

Squads

West Indies

Darren Sammy (capt), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Evin Lewis, Jerome Taylor.

Afghanistan

Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Hamid Hassan, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Shafiqullah Shafiq, Amir Hamza, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Sadiq, Mohammad Shahzad, Noor Ali Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf.

Key Players

West Indies

Yes, it's an obvious choice, but if Gayle finds his range against Afghanistan’s slow bowlers, then it could be carnage. The West Indian savaged England for a brutal 48-ball ton, and, worryingly for the Associate Nation, he's been quiet ever since, including scoring just four against South Africa. If he manages to spend some time at the crease here, then watch out in the crowd.

Afghanistan

While the 17-year-old Rashid Khan has impressed, Mohammad Nabi remains Afghanistan's premium bowler and has looked more than at ease on the big stage. Including the qualifying stages, the off-spinner has delivered 23 overs at a cost of six runs each while picking off 10 wickets in the process. If Nabi can make inroads into the Windies lineup, then who knows what could happen?

Prediction

If the contest comes down to a straightforward bat-off, then the West Indies should triumph with a minimum of fuss. However, if it's another Bunsen, then this could be tight.