Darren Bravo made a compelling case for a West Indies white-ball recall after a superb knock for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL final.
TKR were put under pressure on multiple occasions by Daren Sammy’s St Lucia Zouks on Thursday but their superior class shone through in the end as they won by eight wickets with 11 balls to spare.
Darren Bravo played a key role in the franchise’s fourth CPL win, both in the field and with the willow in hand.
The 31-year-old took two excellent catches on the boundary to dismiss opposition danger men Andre Fletcher and Mohammad Nabi, before playing an important anchor role in a 138-run partnership with Lendl Simmons to see his team through a difficult chase.
The stylish left-hander has been criticised for facing too many dot balls in the past and he certainly took his time to get in at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.
Yet, having two set batsmen at the crease was the key and by soaking up the pressure while Simmons blazed away at the other end, he helped ensure his team reached a position from which they could win the match.
Bravo switched gears in the 14th over when he pumped Javelle Glen for two sixes and then, after two further overs of relative calm, he deposited further lusty blows into the stands off the bowling of Zahir Khan.
It was a four off the inside edge of the Trini native’s bat that sealed the win as he finished on 58* off 47 balls.
The impressive knock was a timely reminder of his ability to produce under pressure ahead of the West Indies’ upcoming tour of New Zealand.
Three T20Is and three Tests are due to be played between the two sides and Bravo will likely be eyeing a spot in both squads.
He hasn’t represented the West Indies in the shortest format of the game since he was dismissed for four in a hammering at the hands of England at Basseterre in March 2019.
Yet, after topping the CPL averages and scoring the third most runs with 297 from nine innings, Darren Bravo should be back on the selectors’ radar.