ICC Champions Trophy 2004: West Indies Won — Browne & Bradshaw's Ninth-Wicket Miracle at The Oval
The ICC Champions Trophy 2004 was the fifth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, played in England in September 2004. West Indies won the tournament for the first time by defeating England in the final at The Oval, London on 25 September 2004, winning by 2 wickets with 7 balls remaining. England posted 217 runs, with Marcus Trescothick contributing 104. West Indies collapsed to 147 for 8, needing another 71 from the last two wickets. Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw added an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 71 — a West Indian record at the time — to complete the chase. Ian Bradshaw scored 34 not out and Courtney Browne 35 not out. Ramnaresh Sarwan was named Player of the Tournament.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2004 was the fifth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, hosted by England in September 2004. The tournament featured eight Test-playing nations competing across two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals. England hosted the event and reached the final as tournament hosts and ICC No. 1 ranked team. West Indies, under the captaincy of Brian Lara, had played inconsistently in the group stage but qualified. West Indies had not won a major ICC event since the 1979 Cricket World Cup — a 25-year gap that underlined their long fall from the dominant force they had been in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Final: England's 217 and West Indies' Collapse
In the final at The Oval, London on 25 September 2004, England batted first. Marcus Trescothick carried England's innings with 104 — a composed century that guided England to 217 all out in 49.4 overs. West Indies' chase began steadily before deteriorating: they slipped to 147 for 8, still needing 71 runs with only two wickets remaining. At that point, West Indies appeared on course for a heavy defeat. Wicketkeeper Courtney Browne and all-rounder Ian Bradshaw — both lower-order batsmen — then produced one of the most dramatic partnerships in Champions Trophy history.
Browne and Bradshaw: The Ninth-Wicket Miracle
Courtney Browne (35 not out) and Ian Bradshaw (34 not out) added an unbroken 71-run partnership for the ninth wicket — a West Indian ODI record at the time — to guide West Indies home by 2 wickets with 7 balls to spare. The partnership was a mixture of calm accumulation and aggressive hitting, with Bradshaw scoring at a strike rate above 100. England's bowlers could not separate the pair. West Indies reached 218 for 8 off 48.5 overs. The win ended West Indies' 25-year major-title drought and was celebrated as a rare moment of triumph for a team that had struggled for most of the preceding two decades. Ramnaresh Sarwan, who had contributed vital runs throughout the tournament, was named Player of the Tournament.
Frequently asked questions
How did West Indies win the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy final?
In the final at The Oval on 25 September 2004, West Indies needed 218 to beat England. After collapsing to 147 for 8, wicketkeeper Courtney Browne (35 not out) and all-rounder Ian Bradshaw (34 not out) added an unbroken 71-run ninth-wicket partnership to complete the chase. West Indies reached 218 for 8 in 48.5 overs, winning by 2 wickets with 7 balls remaining. England had posted 217, with Marcus Trescothick scoring 104.
Who was the Player of the Tournament in the 2004 Champions Trophy?
Ramnaresh Sarwan of West Indies was named Player of the Tournament at the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy. The tournament was West Indies' first major ICC title since the 1979 Cricket World Cup, ending a 25-year gap without a major tournament victory.