“This victory is solely dedicated to the Caribbean people, the fans all over the world.

“We are a praying team and we never stop praying.”

Such were the words of West Indies captain Darren Sammy upon winning the World Twenty20 cricket final against England.

Truer words were never spoken, as a short 20 minutes before, it would be safe to say that every diehard and not so diehard cricket fan in or from the Caribbean region (yes that means Bermuda as well) was praying for a miracle to happen.

After sending England in to bat, it seemed as if West Indies would make short work of the chaps in orange, with Samuel Badree collecting two wickets within the first 20 minutes.

Then batsman Joe Root came in and became the Winston Churchill of England’s T20 team by scoring a total of 54 much needed runs to help the “Boys from Blighty” to reach a respectable 155 runs, thus leaving West Indies to chase 156 runs in 20 overs.

Without regurgitating the painful details, West Indies struggled to meet the required run-rate. Around the Caribbean, people were in a panic, with WhatsApp and Facebook notifications pinging and ringing by the second.

The common cry, punctuated with various choice Caribbean metaphors, was “how could they/we have thrown away the game so carelessly?”

Had it not been for Marlon Samuels scoring 85 runs, after being saved by the third umpire, it would be safe to say that it would have been a wrap for the “maroon men”.

Fast-forward to the 20th over, 19 runs were needed off of six balls — 18 to force a tie and a Super Over.

Many, including myself, dropped to their knees and prayed to the heavens for us to at least get one six and maybe three fours.

Knowing without divine intervention we were facing an historic disaster, we begged and pleaded with the Almighty to take a hold of the bat belonging to Carlos Brathwaite.

As England bowler Ben Stokes made his run-up, we looked on and hoped beyond hope that no stump would fall and no catch would be made. We held our breath as the ball flew and awaited those ebony arms to move with purpose.

And with purpose they moved.

Perhaps it was that the ball was white, or that the cameras were well zoomed in, one would never be able to quite know. However, millions of heads watched that sphere reach the heavens, as if the angels themselves were carrying the ball.

Brathwaite had hit a six. Nineteen minus six leaves 13.

Thirteen runs from five balls to win.

Mental calculators were hoping that maybe we could get a few fours.

As Stokes made his way down the pitch one more time, we prayed once again and once again our prayers were answered with yet another angel carrying a six into the stands. Thirteen minus six leaves seven.

Seven runs from four balls; surely, we had used up all of our miracles by now. The next Stokes ball was again slapped for a six. Seven minus six leaves one. One run needed to ensure victory.

Moments such as this were made for movies alone, and surely this was a movie being played out across the entire cricket world. Anxiety was rising by the minute.

There may have been a split nanosecond before the entire Caribbean region, including Bermuda, erupted in unbelievable lottery-like jubilation when they saw the final ball hit for six.

West Indies had been provided with a miracle and became the world T20 champions.

Most pundits would never have placed odds on our region winning not just that game, but the women’s final hours earlier, to go with the men’s under-19 50-overs title in Bangladesh in February.

Here in Bermuda we have a more sobering reality that our national coach, Clay Smith, has had to lay down the law in no uncertain terms that our national programme will not be home to slackers. No training equals no playing.

I am no cricket specialist, but I know if our domestic game is to rise, we need committed players. If our national game is to rise, we need committed domestic players.

More importantly, we need the country to rally behind the clubs and the national squad, and to demand accountability on and off of the pitch.

For many, the game of cricket is used as a form of life lesson. No matter what discipline one finds themselves in and no matter what goals they wish to achieve, prayers and miracles are no substitute for hard work, unity and dedication.

God helps those who help themselves.