Chris Gayle started with flair while Darren Sammy finished with a flourish as West Indies got the better of Australia by six wickets in an exciting Group 2 League encounter of the ICC World T20 in Mirpur.
A stunning hat-trick from Josh Hazlewood was not enough for Australia, as Darren Sammy led from the front with an unbeaten half-century to fashion a morale-boosting three-wicket win in a World Twenty20 warm-up match at Eden Gardens.
Darren Sammy has seen how Pakistani spinners tormented Australia earlier this week and the West Indies captain is planning to subject George Bailey and his men to the same treatment in the second semi-final of the World Twenty on Friday.
Hosts West Indies primed for Super 8 clash against defending champions England
South Africa and India have advanced as the two other teams unbeaten in the group stage though both had their struggles in the United States leg of the tournament.
An exultant West Indies cricket captain Darren Sammy said winning the World Twenty20 title, the team's first major trophy in 33 years, has proved that the Caribbeans are gradually moving towards reclaiming their past glory.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy was all praise for his bowlers, especially Sunil Narine, saying the mystery off-spinner brings "quality to the side".
A fine all-round performance from Darren Sammy helped West Indies crush Bangladesh by 75 runs in the fourth One-Day International in Dhaka on Friday to square the five-match series 2-2.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy laughed off Indian batsman Suresh Raina's claim that the big-hitting Caribbean cricketers cannot rotate the strike and dared the Indians to stop his batsmen from hitting sixes in Sunday's World Twenty20 match.
Bitter but not unnerved by the "lack of respect" for his team even back home, West Indies captain Darren Sammy said the side's stupendous World Twenty20 run has been possible because of the players' unity in the face of acute adversity. The West Indians almost did not make it to the World T20 owing to a bitter pay dispute with their Cricket Board. But once here, they showed sublime form to storm into Sunday's final where they will take on England. "People just paint us as money grabbing cricketers because of our success in Twenty20 cricket. But yes still they don't respect us in that format. We get that sometimes from our own board," Sammy said in the pre-match press conference. Blasting their critics, S "How could you describe people with 'no brains'? Animals got brains. We're not an object. To me that particular comment really set it off for us. You could see me talking about it. "It's kind of emotional, as for soammy said the more they are castigated, the more they are united. He was reacting to a jibe by former English cricketer Mark Nicholas, who described the Windies players as "short of brains" in an article.mebody whom I respect and had good rapport with that particular gentleman. To describe our team who were defending champions four years ago as we guys with no brains is really out of order," Sammy said.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy gave debutante pacer Mohammad Shami the credit for India's crushing win, but also blamed his batsmen for "rash and irresponsible" shots which cost them the first Test of the two-match series inside three days.
With India on a 10-match winning streak at home, it is difficult to stop their juggernaut, said West Indies captain Darren Sammy ahead of their second One-dayer in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
Figuring out a way to end West Indies' misery against India is not the only thought bothering Darren Sammy, the skipper is also busy refuting allegations that he discouraged some regional cricketers from attending last week's Players' Association awards.
After succumbing to a seven-wicket defeat against India in the second ODI, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy blamed his batsmen for failing to capitalise on a good start.
Having managed to field a strong side in the last minute amid a contract row with their Board (WICB), West Indies captain Darren Sammy today said their aim is to bring back the World Twenty20 title to restore the faith among the Caribbean fans. "As of now we are in the World Twenty20 and that's what our focus is on. It's just cricket. At the end we are professionals, but this event means a lot to us as a group. The next World Twenty20 is in 2020 and a few of our guys won't be part of that event so this one is very important for us," Sammy said. "Everyone's focus is on winning. A win here will mean a lot to us and people at home, especially in the current situation of our cricket. It's not just about the men team but the women team as well. "The message is cricket. Once you step out on the cricket field you should not be worried about contracts and other stuff. It's about making your country proud," the skipper of the 2012 World T20 champion side in Sri Lanka told reporters in Kolkata. Presently ranked world no 2 in Twenty20 rankings, West Indies cricket was in serious crisis involving players' contracts in the run up to the upcoming event and a second string side was expected to be named had the row been not resolved at the last minut
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has said they drew a lot of inspiration from the recent performance of their Under-19 team that won the World Cup and their women team's show at the World T20 on Thursday afternoon.
A victory for India will be sweet revenge for their heartbreaking losses in the finals of the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship last year.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
West Indies Coach Daren Sammy remains positive that they will perform better in the upcoming Super Six stage matches to qualify for the ICC Men's World Cup.
The one characteristic that probably defines Darren Sammy the most is his smile. The West Indies captain is on most occasions seen flashing one, irrespective of how his team is performing.
Having posted their seventh win in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Darren Sammy has his fingers crossed as far as winning the title is concerned, but expressed confidence of making the play-offs.
The very mention of Chris Gayle irritated a normally soft-spoken West Indies skipper Darren Sammy who couldn't hide being sarcastic remarks when asked whether he is missing the prolific opener considering the state of his batting line-up.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy expressed hope that his team would seize the opportunities that come their way in the final World Cup Group B match against India.
The West Indies tasted success for the first time on their New Zealand tour on Thursday when they scraped home by two wickets in the first One-Day International in Auckland. After dismissing New Zealand for a modest 156 in 42.1 overs, the West Indies made hard work the target for the loss of eight wickets in 27.3 overs.
Darren Sammy has vowed to restore pride and passion in West Indies cricket after replacing Chris Gayle as skipper.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday
Darren Sammy was handed the task of rebuilding the fortunes of the once-mighty West Indies team when he was named as the new captain on Sunday.
South Africa overcame a sizzling late innings blitz by Darren Sammy to take a 2-0 lead in the One-Day International series against the West Indies on Monday.
West Indies captain Darren Sammy says his batsmen have to find a way to score against India's spinners for the team to have a chance of doing well in the ongoing three-Test series, the first of which the visitors lost in four days.
Images from the West Indies-Australia World T20 in Mirpur on Friday.
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup Super 8s match against Australia?
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy claims his team has finally figured out a chink in Rahul Dravid's armour and the in-form senior Indian batsman would be out of the equation early in the third and decisive Test to be played in Roseau, Dominica.
More than eight years after Carlos Brathwaite's four sixes at Eden Gardens gave them their second T20 world title, a wounded West Indies will look to redeem themselves at home when they begin their campaign in the event's ninth edition by taking on Papua New Guinea, in Georgetown on Sunday.
Fast bowling sensation Shamar Joseph should be fast-tracked into the West Indies squad for the home T20 World Cup in June, said former captain Chris Gayle.
West Indies cruised to a five-wicket win over England in the second Twenty20 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Tuesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Hosts USA will face Canada in the opening match on June 1, the ICC announced.
Marlon Samuels's third Test century and a fluid knock from captain Darren Sammy helped West Indies put an abject start to the second Test with England behind them and rally to finish the first day on 304 for six on Friday.
West Indies' spin-wary batsmen should look to Shivnarine Chanderpaul to learn how to tackle the Indian spinners in the ongoing Test series, visiting captain Darren Sammy said on Sunday.
All-rounder Darren Sammy will lead the 15-member West Indies cricket team for the tour of India, starting next month.
West Indies Skipper Darren Sammy dedicated their World Twenty20 triumph to fans back home and said it is a step in the "right direction" and will usher in a new beginning for cricket in the Caribbean islands.
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