The West Indies Women won their first-ever global title with an impressive eight-wicket victory that denied the Australian Women a fourth successive ICC Women’s World T20 title. Half-centuries from Elyse Villani and Meg Lanning lifted the Aussie Southern Stars to 148 for five, the team’s highest total in the tournament, after they won the toss and chose to bat. The Caribbean side surpassed the challenging target with three deliveries remaining, following a rollicking opening stand of 120 between skipper Stafanie Taylor and teenager Hayley Matthews. The 18-year-old Matthews, the Player-of-the-Match, smashed 66 off 45 balls that included six boundaries and three sixes. Taylor, the Player-of-the-Tournament, scored 59 off 57 balls with six hits to the fence. It was the first win for the Windies Women over Australia Women in nine T20 Internationals, and the first time a team outside Australia, England and New Zealand has won a major women’s world title. West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president, Dave Cameron, congratulated the women’s team on its emphatic win over Australia to take the 2016 ICC World T20 crown. “The region is celebrating the victory. The women displayed grit and determination throughout the entire tournament and ended in a thrilling overall win. Congratulations to the player of the tournament and captain, Stafanie Taylor and player of the match, Hayley Matthews. We also offer all-round praise to the team management and all the persons who worked with this unit in preparation for this tournament,” he said. The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) also extended its congratulations to the successful West Indies ladies. WIPA’s president and CEO Wavell Hinds said, “Our ladies demonstrated what hard work and dedication can achieve. They have made everyone in the Caribbean and all their fans extremely proud. They are deserving champions. Congratulations ladies, the management and the support staff!” Source: Caribbeanewsnow