The Caribbean, second time of asking
The West Indies had staged the 2007 fifty-over World Cup and been criticised for almost every part of it: ticket prices locals could not meet, half-empty grounds, rules that kept drums and home-cooked food outside. Three years later the region was handed the short format instead, and it fitted. Three venues, seventeen days, twelve teams, and crowds who actually turned up. Afghanistan were among those teams, the only Affiliate member ever to reach an ICC senior world event, a handful of years after climbing out of the bottom divisions of the World Cricket League.
Rain at Providence
Guyana got the weather. West Indies chased England's 191 in a six-over Duckworth-Lewis reset and won by eight wickets. Zimbabwe were handed a five-over target against Sri Lanka and lost by 14 runs. England's match with Ireland was abandoned with Ireland 14 for 1, and Ireland went home without completing a single game against a Test side. England advanced from that mess and then played the best cricket in the tournament, which was not remotely obvious from a team the Netherlands had beaten at Lord's the previous summer.
Eighteen off Ajmal
The second semi-final is the one that lasted. Pakistan made 191 for 6 and left Australia needing 18 from the final over, Saeed Ajmal bowling and Michael Hussey on strike. Six, four, six, six. Australia won with a ball unused, Hussey finishing on 60 not out from 24 deliveries, and the innings remains the reference point against which every late Twenty20 assault gets measured. Pakistan, the defending champions, were out. England had already dealt with Sri Lanka in the first semi-final, chasing 129 with four overs unused.
Bridgetown, 16 May
The final was decided in three overs. Ryan Sidebottom had Shane Watson caught off a chance Craig Kieswetter parried, David Warner was run out by Michael Lumb, and Sidebottom then removed Brad Haddin. Australia were 8 for 3. David Hussey's 59 from 54 balls dragged them to 147 for 6, and it was never going to be enough. Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen put on 111 for the second wicket. England finished in 17 overs and won a global men's tournament for the first time.
Afterwards
England had selected for the format rather than around it. Kieswetter and Michael Lumb were South African-born openers picked to attack the powerplay, Sidebottom and Graeme Swann bowled to clear plans, and Paul Collingwood captained the game in front of him rather than the one he had grown up with. It did not begin a dynasty; another nine years passed before England won a second global men's title. Australia, beaten here, would wait until 2021 for their first in the format. But the tournament settled a question the 2007 World Cup had left hanging about whether the Caribbean could host an event people enjoyed being at.