Cricket \\ West Indies were crowned the new World Twenty20 champions after a 36-run victory over hosts Sri Lanka in a dramatic final in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 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 which also included Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Post match, Mahela Jayawardene (35) announced his decision to step down as the captain of the Sri Lankan T20 team after losing the final match. “Just one announcement guys, I have had a chat with the selectors and I have decided to step down as a captain of the Sri Lankan T20 team after the end of the tournament,” Jayawardene said in a matter-of-fact manner at the post-match press conference here. He also informed that he will “assess his future as captain” in the ODIs and Tests after Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia in December 2012. 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. 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. The hosts were cruising at 48-1 in the 10th over when the West Indies bounced back by claiming four wickets for 13 runs. It was a perfect stage set for a perfect final. The world’s two most loveable cricket countries, both starved of success in recent years, both with scant regard for conventional play, head-to-head in a stadium filled with cheering fans. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa wasn’t going to miss this one—he was in a prime spot at the stadium to witness events unfold from his armchair. But the president, like the majority of the crowd, left disappointed as the home team came up short. Cricket means a lot in this part of the world, and after hosting a terrific sporting carnival over the past three weeks, it seemed that Sri Lanka was destined to win the trophy to add to its one and only triumph, in the 50-over World Cup way back in 1996. And it started so well, as the West Indies team—after winning the toss and choosing to bat—just could not find the room to score any runs off Sri Lankan bowling attack.