Simmons, Walton smash West Indies Champions to Legends title
Key Points(5)
- West Indies Champions delivered a commanding performance to capture the World Championship of Legends title on Sunday, overwhelming England by nine wickets after Lendl Simmons and Chadwick Walton produced unbeaten half-centuries to complete a dominant run chase.
- Simmons finished on 77 not out and Walton on 58 not out as the Caribbean side raced to 160 for one, reaching its target with 18 balls remaining at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
- Their devastating partnership followed a disciplined bowling display led by Player of the Match Dwayne Bravo, whose three-wicket haul helped restrict England to 159 for seven.
- Bravo dismantles England’s top order England’s innings was in serious trouble at 61 for five in the 10th over after Bravo made decisive inroads into the batting lineup.
- However, Moeen Ali and Owais Shah mounted a recovery that gave England a fighting total.
West Indies Champions delivered a commanding performance to capture the World Championship of Legends title on Sunday, overwhelming England by nine wickets after Lendl Simmons and Chadwick Walton produced unbeaten half-centuries to complete a dominant run chase.
Simmons finished on 77 not out and Walton on 58 not out as the Caribbean side raced to 160 for one, reaching its target with 18 balls remaining at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Their devastating partnership followed a disciplined bowling display led by Player of the Match Dwayne Bravo, whose three-wicket haul helped restrict England to 159 for seven.
Bravo dismantles England’s top order
England’s innings was in serious trouble at 61 for five in the 10th over after Bravo made decisive inroads into the batting lineup.
However, Moeen Ali and Owais Shah mounted a recovery that gave England a fighting total. Ali struck 60 from 39 balls, including four sixes and four fours, while Shah remained unbeaten on 38 from 28 deliveries.
The pair added 54 runs for the sixth wicket, reviving England’s hopes after the early collapse.
Ali eventually fell to Raymon Reifer in the 15th over, but Shah continued to battle, combining with Toby Roland-Jones in an unbroken 28-run stand to take England to 159 for seven.
Bravo finished with impressive figures of three for 21 from his four overs. Fidel Edwards, Sheldon Cottrell, Reifer and Carlos Brathwaite claimed one wicket each to complete a collective bowling effort that kept England from posting a more imposing total.
Simmons and Walton turn the final into a rout
West Indies made an aggressive start to the chase, with Chris Gayle and Simmons putting on 42 runs inside the first six overs.
Gayle struck 21 from 14 balls before Ajmal Shahzad bowled him, bringing Walton to the crease.
England needed wickets to regain control, but instead encountered an unstoppable partnership. Simmons and Walton combined power with calculated stroke play, denying England another breakthrough and steadily closing in on the title.
Simmons hammered eight fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 53-ball innings, while Walton’s 35-ball knock featured four sixes and three fours.
Their unbroken 124-run stand carried West Indies to 160 for one, sealing the championship in emphatic fashion and leaving England’s bowlers without another wicket.
Walton, Chanderpaul collect individual honors
Walton’s outstanding performances throughout the competition earned him the Batter of the Tournament award, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul received the Legend of the Tournament honor.
The individual accolades capped a memorable campaign for the West Indies Champions, who combined Bravo’s incisive bowling with the explosive batting of Simmons and Walton when the title was on the line.
Gayle hails victory’s significance for the Caribbean
A delighted Gayle said the triumph would resonate with supporters throughout the region, particularly after the West Indies senior men’s T20 International team had drawn its series 2-2 with India.
“I’m absolutely delighted for the guys. England played brilliantly, and I want to congratulate them.
“Bravo and Chadwick Walton had fantastic tournaments. In a final, you never know what can happen, so I gave extra energy but made sure not to pull a muscle! Chanderpaul stepped up with a terrific knock in the semifinal. This victory means so much to the Caribbean people, especially after the West Indies T20I team drew 2-2 with India,” Gayle said.
The comprehensive victory gave West Indies Champions the ultimate reward for their campaign, with a memorable final performance that combined early bowling pressure and an explosive, match-winning batting partnership.
