Walton, Gayle hail ‘remarkable’ championship win

The West Indies Champions are the kings of the cricketing world once again.

In a display of sheer dominance, the Caribbean side defeated the England Champions by nine wickets in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2026 final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium over the weekend.

After restricting England to a modest 159-7 in their 20 overs, the West Indies produced a blistering batting performance to chase down the target in just 17 overs, scoring 165-1 to emphatically seal the title and erase the memories of last year’s disappointing campaign.

A disciplined bowling effort led by Dwayne Bravo set up the win, and he was named Player of the Match for his stellar figures of three for 21.

The chase was then powered by opener Lendl Simmons and the tournament’s standout performer, Chadwick Walton, who made light work of the English bowling attack.

Phenomenal tournament

Walton capped off a phenomenal tournament that saw him finish as the Player of the Series with 342 runs.

Speaking after the match, an elated Walton emphasised the team’s redemption.

“The guys said that we needed this win. Last year we didn’t do so well, so this year we decided that we’re coming off of this one very happy,” he said.

Speaking on his current form, Walton credited the local Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Super 50 tournament.

“I was playing some local 50-over cricket back home for Melbourne CC, so I came here with some form and all I had to do was just play my natural game, and I did just that.”

Captain Chris Gayle, who has led the side with characteristic calm, was full of praise for his troops.

In his post-match press conference, the “Universe Boss” highlighted the collective effort that secured the trophy.

“Absolutely, man. I’m so happy for the guys. Remarkable championship-winning team,” Gayle said.

“So England played a very good game. I want to give England a big shout-out as well. They had a tremendous tournament.”

He added: “Thanks to my guys, DJ Bravo, vice-captain; Chadwick Walton had a phenomenal tournament as well.”

Despite the star power in the batting line-up, Gayle was quick to credit the bowlers for laying the foundation.

“But credit got to go to the bowlers, though. I think they really and truly set it up for us. (The) bowlers were great.”

High-calibre cricket

Gayle also took a moment to reflect on the quality of the competition, noting that the tournament featured high-calibre cricket, including a strong South African side that was knocked out by England in the semifinals.

However, he reserved special mention for a legendary figure who played a crucial role behind the scenes and on the field, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The former West Indies stalwart, serving as player-coach, delivered a remarkable innings in the semifinal against Australia – scoring 41 off 27 balls - to help the team reach the final.

“It’s good to see him on the field as well. It’s fantastic. He’s the player-coach for our team as well,” Gayle stated. “He was superb, man. He’s actually fitting well with the group. So glad to have a man like Shiv around, and I know we may ask him to put on his pads for next season as well.”