CARLOS Brathwate isn’t a name that springs instantly to mind when the talk turns to cricket. But England’s fans and players won’t forget it in a hurry.

There we were all set for the perfect end to a perfect weekend of TV sport when Mr Brathwate showed up.

West Indies needed 19 runs off the last over of the World T20 final to lift the trophy for the second time.

The one man who could do it – Marlon Samuels who had hit 85 off 66 balls – was a stranded spectator at the wrong end to do any damage. In any case, Ben Stokes was about to bowl that final over, so victory was in the bag. What followed was enough to reduce grown men to tears. Brathwate had reached just 10 off six balls so he was hardly a threat to the natural order.

Even when the first ball from Stokes was sent sailing into the crowd to reduce the margin for victory to 13 there was no reason to worry.

A few minutes and three balls and three sixes later the Windies were on their way to collect the trophy.

Stokes, like the rest of his team, was devastated. It was sporting drama that was up there with the best and, even if man-of-the-match Samuels was not exactly the most magnanimous of world champions, having to forfeit 30 per cent of his win bonus for his on-field behaviour towards the England bowler, the result proved one point – you can never take anything for granted.

And that might be something worth remembering by the young lad who posed for a photograph showing off a blue scarf bearing the news: Leicester – Premier League Champions 2016.

By now, more than half of the country’s football fans will be hoping that the Foxes do escape from the chasing hounds of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City, but even a seven-point lead is no guarantee of success, any more than a 19-run cushion going into the last over of a cricket match is enough.

Four wins from the final six matches will secure the title – even if Spurs and the rest win all their remaining games – and after watching their 1-0 win over Southampton and listening to the radio phone-ins afterwards, it is obvious that they have one important thing in their favour. The fans are a darn sight more nervous than the players.

This latest single goal win was their fourth in a row. Another four and you won’t hear one word of complaint or moan about boring Leicester from anybody who believes in fairy tales.

Now even Hollywood are showing an interest.

ON the subject of taking things for granted an apology to the good folk of Formula One.

There have been two Grand Prix races so far this season and Lewis Hamilton has won neither of them.

Perhaps, though, it is no surprise that they have been won by Nico Rosberg who also happens, like our Lewis, to drive a Mercedes car.

Would it be too cynical to suggest that this is one way of making the race for the World Drivers Championship interesting for a few weeks?

CLAIMS of dodgy dealings over drugs by a shady doctor and stories of a misbehaving Arsenal footballer hogged the weekend headlines, but one feel-good tale that did get through the net was the fact that Barrow AFC boss Paul Cox was named the Vanarama National League manager of the month for March.

Four wins and two draws earned Cox the title and the Bluebirds marked the occasion by starting the new month with another win.

The 1-0 success at Aldershot was revenge for the home defeat by the Shots earlier in the season, shortly before Cox arrived at Holker Street.