West Indian all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo has batted at no 4 in the second T20 against Australia to give strength to his batting since it’s been a long time when he had performed with the bat.
West Indies went up with the lead of 2-0 in the five-match T20I series after comprehensively outplaying Australia both with the bat and ball in the second T20 at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.
The visitors will never forget this day as they were put down to chase 197 in 20 overs and they only managed to score 140. Australia has been bowled out for two consecutive games first time since 2010.
Meanwhile, DJ Bravo played a crucial role in the victory of WI in the second T20 as he was never out of the game while batting, fielding or bowling.
It’s been 5 years since Bravo has batted at No 4 or scored 25 or above runs in the shortest format. His batting skills were not utilized properly as he would also not remember his last performance with the bat.
The 37-year-old was promoted up in the batting order and he made good use of it after scoring 47 off 34 balls and shared a 100 runs stand alongside Shimron Hetmyer.
Bravo may have not allowed batting at 59/3 if the skipper, Kieron Pollard had been fit or Nicholas Pooran been in good form. WI trusted their all-rounder and regained his forgotten batting skills.
“It was always in the team plan if we bat first and we lose early wickets for me to go in and control the innings with the bat – it’s more my style of play,”
Bravo told the broadcasters.
“Pick up the ones and twos lay that solid platform for the likes of Andre Russell, Fabian Allen, Pooran, if Polly is in the squad, to do what they have to do in the back end. I must be honest, at some point, I was trying to get out at the back end to allow Russell and these guys to finish off.”
The veteran all-rounder was all over the place last night in all three departments of batting, bowling, and fielding. He was also behind the excellent slow delivery bowled by Fidel Edwards to shock Aaron Finch.
“Two days ago I teach him how to do it,”
Bravo revealed.
“I said, you have the perfect action to bowl a different slower ball. I let him stand about five feet away from me and said Fidel, all you have to do with your action is sling the ball like this with pace but he didn’t have the confidence to do it in a game.
So I said to him to do a few in practice. I said do it in the game, nothing wrong with trying, so for me to see him have the success I’m happy.”