Share

Stokes: I was left devastated

London - England all-rounder Ben Stokes says he was left devastated by his last over horror show in the World T20 final against West Indies and has yet to watch a re-run of Carlos Brathwaite hitting him for four straight sixes.

The 24-year-old, who had earned plaudits for his efforts in the last over of England's semifinal win over New Zealand, was tasked with bowling the final over on Sunday in Kolkata with the West Indies needing an unlikely 19 from it to win.

But Brathwaite slugged Stokes' first four deliveries for giant sixes to give the West Indies their second World Twenty 20 title and leave the Englishman on his haunches looking close to tears.

"I thought, 'I've just lost the World Cup'. I couldn't believe it," Stokes was quoted as saying by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph on Friday.

"I didn't know what to do. It took me so long to get back on my feet. I didn't want to get back up. It was like the whole world had come down on me. There weren't any good things going through my mind. It was just complete devastation."

Stokes, who had given up just three runs in the final over against New Zealand, said he was still confident of closing out victory against the West Indies even after Brathwaite had clubbed his first two deliveries over the rope.

"After the first six I thought, 'Oh God', but I was backing myself. I had been in that type of situation for four weeks in all my training so it was not a case of holding anything back and thinking I hope I get this one in, because I knew I could do it," Stokes said.

"I haven't watched it back yet because I don't want to bring myself to do that at this stage so I don't know how much I missed it by but as a bowler you have a feeling as soon as you let go whether or not you have got a yorker right and it felt like I had."

Stokes was subject to ridicule in his native New Zealand, and two radio presenters were suspended after they broadcast a conversation with his mother on air as she tried to defend her son against the criticism.

Stokes said despite the experience in the final he would not be shirking the responsibility of bowling at the death again.

"Some days they go well. Some days they don't," he added.

"That was a bad day but I won't be shying away from it. You almost want it to happen because if you nail it everyone forgets (the final)."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1814 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1770 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1079 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 457 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 186 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE