NORTH STAKE, Antigua, GMC – Stylish left-hander Darren Bravo grabbed his first One-Day International hundred in five years to drive the West Indies to a comfortable five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka and a clean sweep of the three-set game here yesterday.
The 32-year-old player scored at the top with 102 off 132 deliveries while irrevocable opener Shai Hope hit 64 off 72 balls and captain Kieron Pollard 52 unbeaten off 42 deliveries, as India West reeled in a target of 275 at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium with nine deliveries to spare.
Previously, Bravo had gone 13 pounds without a half century, during which time he was paltry 18 on average, but his fourth ODI century saw him turn the page on that depressing run of form as he hit five four and four six.
“I think today is an important day for me,” said Bravo after being awarded the Man of the Match.
“I tried my best today. He wasn’t the most fluent but at the end of the day, we got the job, which was the most important thing, ”
For the home team, the result marked their third whitewash in their last five series following similar achievements against Ireland and Afghanistan, and was also a rebound for the 3-0 wake-up they had on Sri Lankan soil last year .
The clean sweep also follows the heels of a 3-0 persecution result in Bangladesh last month when an inexperienced side was firmly crossed.
“This gives us the confidence that we can do some things. We’re going to build on this … we’re looking to continue to work hard and keep improving as we move forward, “said Pollard who is clearly happy.
Earlier, Wanindu Hasaranga, number eight, had lost 80 of 60 unbeaten balls off 60 balls and Ashen Bandara, an unbeaten 55, to help pull Sri Lankan pubs around to 274 for six off their 50 over.
Once sent in, the visitors had fallen to 151 for six in the 32nd over after being undermined by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein’s three wickets carrier, before the pair netted an invaluable 123 in a seventh wicketless wicket partnership to ensure that the West Indies are given a serious target to pursue.
Their stand was vitally important after Sri Lanka were found guilty of wasting an opening stand of 68 between Danushka Gunathilaka (36) in form and captain Dimuth Karunaratne (31).
The left-hander Gunathilaka stroked a half-dozen fours in a 38-ball beat as he topped fast bowler Alzarri Joseph on his helmet and was pulled at a point in the 14th over.
Karunaratne followed with two runs added in the next over after hitting one four and six, losing a swipe on part-time spinner Jason Mohammed and losing his leg stump.
Pathum Nissanka then produced 24 off 25 off 25 balls in a 31 run wicket stand with veteran Dinesh Chandimal (16) to get Sri Lanka up to 101 without further loss.
However, once Hosein hit Nissanka ahead of him to win a lbw decision in the 21st over, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 50 runs to lose their way.
Hasaranga came to the rescue of his side, clubbing seven fours and three sixes – including three fours and six off the final by regulator Jason Holder – while Bandara pored three fours and sixes as Sri Lanka collected 89 runs from the last 10 overs.
For the first time in the series, West Indies went off to a solid start as left-hander Evin Lewis played down the wrong line for a full-length delivery from controller Suranga Lakmal (2-56) and bowled at 13 in the fifth over and Jason Mohammed failed to drive in a Wanindu Hasaranga googly and bowled for eight in the 10th.
Bravo then anchored the inning, posting 109 for the third wicket with Hope before adding another 80 for the fifth wicket with Pollard.
He started slowly with only three runs of his first 13 balls and never slowed his pace, reaching his half-century off 81 balls in the 30th over. His second fifty needed only 49 balls, though, and he picked up three figures with a boundary to fine a leg off the Hasaranga leg spinner in the 45th, before spoiling seven balls later, driving a full Lakmal throw to his cover.
Hope, who already has one hundred and fifty in the series, counted three fours and two sixes before heading out to long in the 32nd over sailor Thisara Perera.
And when Nicholas Pooran missed a sweep and was pushed to the part-time Danushka Gunathilaka in the 35th over, West Indies needed a partnership and Pollard arrived to blast four fours and sixes to ensure no late hits.
