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Darren Bravo produced exactly what he was selected for.
On the second day of his team’s three-day game against New Zealand A in Queenstown, the cousin of West Indies legend Brian Lara anchored his team’s hitting with a graceful century.
Bravo was not on the Windies test team for the series in England after opting out for health reasons, but returned to the test team for the New Zealand tour, with the expectations of head coach Roger Harper.
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Darren Bravo made a graceful century for the West Indies against NZ A in Queenstown on Saturday. (FILE PHOTO)
“We hope that the return of Bravo adds some solidity and leadership to the top of the order. We hope it helps us lay the foundation to build great totals. He’s been racing consistently in all formats, ”Harper said.
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He did it again Saturday at John Davies Oval, making 135 of 214 balls as the tourists finished the day at 329-6. He hit 13 fours and five sixes and established a 122 partnership in third field with Shamarh Brooks.
Bravo advanced into the 90s with two sixes from Michael Rippon’s left-arm leg clamp and added a third before raising his ton with a leg fold to the 177 ball he faced.
Brooks faced 152 balls for his 80, with five fours, while captain Roston Chase made 41 of 62 balls before being brought down by one that stayed low from Sean Solia.
Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
Darren Bravo has beefed up the West Indies batting lineup ahead of Test 1 against New Zealand next month. (FILE PHOTO).
While the A-team batting lineup included two members of the Black Caps test squad and fit bats Devon Conway and Joe Carter, the bowling attack featured no one who could win the international pick this summer and so both tourists were able to easily pass the account of their opponent’s first inning.
On Friday, NZ A went 308-3 declared in 79 overs as Henry Nicholls showed that he will be ready to face the visitors in the first Test that begins in Hamilton on December 3.
After missing the first three rounds of the Plunket Shield with a calf injury, the southpaw hit 76 with just 108 balls.
Young starter Rachin Ravindra showed his promise with 112 of 187 balls, while the Black Caps Twenty20 last call-up Devon Conway continued to rack up runs with 46 unbeaten.
New Zealand A 308-3 declared (R Ravindra 112, H Nicholls 76, D Conway 46th, J Carter 41st) v West Indies 329-6 (D Bravo 135, S Brooks 80, R Chase 41) in Queenstown.
