KOLKATA: Carlos Brathwaite played down his historic six-hitting blitz which led the West Indies to the World Twenty20 title on Sunday, preferring to pay tribute to man-of-the-match Marlon Samuels.
Brathwaite, a strapping 27-year-old Barbadian all-rounder, made light of the West Indies needing 19 off the final over to smash Ben Stokes for four successive sixes.
The four-wicket win gave the Caribbean side a second World Twenty20 title but as headline star Chris Gayle flopped, Brathwaite emerged from the shadows to finish on an undefeated 34 off 10 balls.
He had earlier taken 3-23 as England made 155-9.
With bat and ball, they were his career best figures in the game's shortest form in just his eighth game.
"Today Marlon Samuels took responsibility right away and played a fantastic knock," Brathwaite said.
"He did it in 2012 and I knew as long as he was there at the end he would bring us home again in 2016."
West Indies captain Darren Sammy saluted his unlikely hero who came in with his team on 107-6 in the 16th over.
"In every game, somebody stepped up and took responsibility and to see Carlos play like that in his debut World (Twenty20), it's just tremendous," said Sammy.
Brathwaite has yet to truly establish himself as an international star.
He made his Test debut against Australia last year and has played just two matches, taking one wicket and making 130 runs -- 59 on debut in Melbourne and then a 69 in Sydney.
He has played seven one-day internationals since 2011, making only 71 runs and claiming three wickets.
Brathwaite could be a headline-maker again next month when he appears for the Delhi Daredevils in the money-spinning Indian Premier League.