West Indies created history by beating Australia in the final of the ICC Women’s World T20 2016 as they became only the third side to become Women’s World Champions in T20s, after England and Australia.
Set 149 to win, the West Indian women made light work of a stiff target as they got a 120-run opening partnership and won it with eight wickets and three balls to spare. Four fifties were scored and there were plenty of memorable performers in the final alone.
But who makes it to the team of the tournament? Here’s your answer:
Suzie Bates
Coming into the tournament, Suzie Bates was not only New Zealand's captain but also arguably the second-best all-rounder behind Ellyse Perry. Although she only picked up two wickets, she more than made up for it with their exploits with the bat.
Only three players scored more than Bates, who also held the record for the highest score in the tournament. Her 82 against Ireland helped her side thrash them by 93 runs and although New Zealand were unlucky to be dumped in the semi-finals by the eventual winners, they got there thanks to her astute leadership.
Charlotte Edwards
Like a fine wine, Charlotte Edwards only seems to be getting better with age. Despite making her Test and ODI debut nearly two decades ago, she is still an integral part of the English side. She might be 36 and may not have all the fancy trick shots that the likes of Sarah Taylor possesses but that does nothing to reduce her effectiveness.
Her numbers are proof of that. She is one of only three players to average over 50 in this tournament and her tally of 202 runs was only bettered by Stafanie Taylor, who scored a fifty in the final. Two fifties in five innings and an overall strike rate in excess of 110 with nothing but classical strokes shows just how good she is in making run-scoring seem so easy.
Stafanie Taylor (Captain)
Opening the innings irrespective of the format in an art in and of itself. That is just why not everyone can open the innings. But Stafanie Taylor has not only managed to do that but also captain the side and also finish as the second-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, which is a huge testament to the player she is. So it was no surprise that she was awarded the Player of the Tournament.
A fifty in the final to guide her team to their maiden World T20 title also propelled her to the top of the run charts. Although her average of 41 is impressive, her strike rate of 93 isn't so. But her off-spin has added another dimension to the attack, especially on tracks that aid turn. And that doesn't even take into account her captaincy, which was the main reason why West Indies became world champions.
Meg Lanning
Coming into the tournament, all eyes were on Ellyse Perry and whether her all-round skills will be what takes Australia to their fourth successive World T20 title. Yet, it was captain Meg Lanning, who almost got them there.
Before the Women's World T20 final, nobody had scored a fifty in the final, but by the end, four women had managed that feat and it was Lanning's fifty that got them to what looked like a winning total. Her three fifties in the tournament was the most by any player in the tournament and if it weren't for Stafanie Taylor's heroics, she probably would have another World T20 medal around her neck.
Sophie Devine
Before the tournament, ask anyone about who the best all-rounder in women's cricket is and the universal answer would be Ellyse Perry. But the 2016 World T20 wasn't one of Perry's best efforts, in fact, Sophie Devine was by far, the best all-rounder in the tournament, in terms of her contributions with both bat and ball.
Devine finished as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, had a batting average of 30 and an incredible strike rate of nearly 140. Her impressive strike rate, solidity at the top of the order and ability to provide crucial breakthroughs with the ball secures her spot in this team.
Rachel Priest (WK)
When you are an opener, you either need to stay till the end and anchor the innings or get the team off to a flyer. Rachel Priest did the latter for New Zealand as she got them off to a good start in almost every game.
While her run-scoring wasn't extra ordinary, her ability to hit big shots and more importantly keep things tidy behind the stumps were what were important on tracks that where at times turniong square right from the first ball.
Deandra Dottin
When you are given the opportunity of delivering the final over in a World T20 final when the opposition are already on top, you need to have nerves of steel to deliver it perfectly. And Deandra Dottin did just that as she conceded just one run and picked up two wickets in the over to give her side the momentum to claim their maiden World T20 title.
That wasn't the only game in which she made a difference though. No bowler has picked up more wickets than here nine and her ability to keep things quiet at the death was a remarkable feature of her bowling in the tournament. The fact that she also contributed with the bat and also scored the winning runs all but seals her spot in this side.
Leigh Kasperek
Aside from the semi-final against West Indies, that was played on a docile track that offered nothing for the bowlers, Leigh Kasperek took at least a wicket in every match of the tournament. The off-spinner was expected to make a difference on conducive conditions in India and she did not disappoint.
She finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with an average of 10 and economy rate under 5. When presented with conditions that helped her style of bowling, she flourished and almost single-handedly got them to the final.
Anya Shrubsole
If it was the experience of Charlotte Edwards that led England with the bat, the 24-year-old was the leader of the bowling attack. The fast bowler from Bath was impressive with her variations and the control over her line and length, which tested the batter at all times.
Seven wickets in five matches at an average of 13.28 and an economy under 5, despite bowling in the powerplay and at the death, speaks volumes of the amount of control that Shrubsole had over her deliveries.
Afy Fletcher
She might have only bowled a single over in the first and last match of the tournament and gone for 10 and 9 runs respectively, but in the middle, Afy Fletcher's economical bowling helped West Indies establish a stranglehold in each game.
With an economy rate of 4.84 and seven wickets from six matches, she proved that she was not only economical but also effective at pcking up crucial wickets. The off-spinner who only came back to the side last year has impressed one and all with her variety and ability to keep things quiet.
Anam Amin
When you are a Pakistani cricketer, the biggest match of your career is against India. And given Pakistan's poor track record against India in World Cups, the match becomes even more crucial. So claiming the Man of the Match in that game and winning it for Pakistan is something that any cricketer would cherish and that is exactly what Anam Amin did.
But that is not the only reason why she makes it into this side. Seven wickets in four matches at an average of just 10.42 and economy rate under 5 speaks for how effective the left-arm spinner has been.
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