Eight years on: West Indies great still gets goosebumps recalling T20 World Cup victory

By Jonathan Healy

West Indies great Stafanie Taylor has admitted she still feels goosebumps when watching the highlights of her side's memorable victory in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2016 as the experienced all-rounder turns her attention to winning a second title this year in Bangladesh.

Taylor spoke with ICC Digital on Wednesday on the eight-year anniversary of the West Indies' T20 World Cup success in 2016 and the 32-year-old recalled with vivid memory exactly how special the victory meant for her and her teammates.

Powerhouse Australia went into the final as clear favourites on the back of winning the three previous editions of the tournament, but a fired-up Taylor and a young Hayley Matthews stood in the way of the Aussies, leading the Caribbean side to an upset victory with a 120-run opening stand.

An 18-year-old Matthews smashed the highly-rated Australia bowling outfit for 66 off just 45 deliveries, while Taylor played a more composed innings of 59 as the West Indies successfully chased down 149 for victory with three balls remaining.

It was just reward for skipper Taylor and the West Indies after they fell at the semi-final stage of the T20 World Cup at the three previous editions and one that the veteran all-rounder revealed still holds close to her heart today.

"When I was watching the clips (highlights of T20 World Cup final) I still had goosebumps. I couldn't believe that we pulled something like that off," Taylor said.

"It was a special one. I mean, for years coming up to, like leading up to that, we worked so hard and we were close in semi-finals, got knocked out. I think we went in the finals one time and we got knocked out, but once it was more in the semi-finals. So it was really nice to be over that hurdle and come away with a victory finally."

While Taylor was the star of the 2016 T20 World Cup and finished as the leading run-scorer with 246 runs, it was the innings of Matthews in the final that showcased the emergence of a new star in women's cricket with a powerful innings that oozed class.

Taylor knew of Matthews' capabilities with the bat leading into the decider against Australia at Eden Gardens, but the fact she hadn't even scored a T20I half-century for her side prior to the innings led the skipper to consider offering a few words of advice before the match.

But Taylor kept quiet and let Matthews play her natural game and the rest is history, as the West Indies pulled off a remarkable victory.

"I remember I said to myself, because she was so young before the finals, ‘I'm going to have a chat with her’ just probably calm her nerves down because she might be nervous and stuff, but something in the back of my mind just said, ‘Just leave her. Just let her go play’," Taylor recalled.

"Watching her from the other end, like it was just flawless. Like she took out all the bowlers. And honestly, I don't think I actually had to do much. Just stand on, you know, watch from that end.

"She was young and I didn't want to put her under too much pressure. And I just wanted her to express herself and not have all of these jitters just before a big final like that. Just let her play. And if anything, I’m there to buckle up and give her the support that she needed.

"And as I said, the way that she just went about her game, I've never seen anything like it. And she was just hitting balls left, right and centre. I was really happy to see it. And every time I think back, I don't work up like I always get chills.”

Taylor credited the support she received from her male counterparts prior to the final in 2016, who themselves were just hours from claiming their second ICC Men's T20 World Cup title at the same venue.

"I remember (West Indies men's captain at the time) Daren Sammy was always texting me, supporting me and telling me, ‘Listen, you guys are going to do well, just go out there and let it all out'," Taylor said.

"And I remember when we won, they actually ran on the field as well. So when we saw it, we knew that we actually had the support from them even before. But it was really for them to actually come over and share in our celebration. So that was good."