Bravo century boosts West Indies
DARREN Bravo produced just what he’d been selected for.
On day two of his side’s threeday game against New Zealand A in Queenstown, the cousin of West Indies legend Brian Lara anchored his team’s batting yesterday with a classy century.
Bravo wasn’t in the Windies test team for the series in England after opting out on health grounds, but returned to the test squad for the tour of NZ, with expectations from chief selector Roger Harper.
‘‘We’re hoping that the return of Bravo will add some solidity and leadership at the top of the order. We hope it will help us lay the foundations to build big totals. He’s been making runs consistently in every format,’’ Harper said.
He did that again at John Davies Oval, making 135 from
214 balls as the tourists ended the day at 329-6. He struck 13 fours and five sixes and put on a thirdwicket partnership of 122 with Shamarh Brooks.
Bravo moved towards the 90s with two sixes off left-arm legspinner Michael Rippon and added a third, before bringing up his ton with a tuck off the legs to the 177th ball he faced. Brooks faced 152 balls for his 80, featuring five fours, while captain Roston Chase made 41 from 62 balls before being skittled by one that kept low from Sean Solia.
While theA team’s batting line-up contained two members of the Black Caps test squad and in-form bats Devon Conway and Joe Carter, the bowling attack didn’t feature anyone likely to gain international selection this summer, and hence the tourists were able to move smoothly past their opposition’s first innings tally.
On Friday, NZ Amade 308-3 declared in 79 overs as Henry Nicholls showed he’ll be ready to face the visitors in the first test starting in Hamilton on December 3.
After missing the first three rounds of the Plunket Shield with a calf injury, the left-hander made 76 from just 108 balls.
Young opener Rachin Ravindra showed his promise with 112 from 187 balls, while the latest call-up to the Black Caps Twenty20 squad, Devon Conway, continued to collate runs with an unbeaten 46.