PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo both scored outstanding centuries as West Indies took full control over New Zealand after the second day of the second Test match at Queen’s Park Oval.
The 21-year-old Brathwaite was unflappable and made his maiden Test century – 129 off 258 balls with 13 fours in just over six hours at the crease. Bravo was dominant and hit 11 fours and four big sixes in a stroke-filled 109 off 155 balls – his first century in the Caribbean and his first at his home club ground.
Together they added a record 182 for the fourth wicket as the home side ended the day comfortably placed at 310-5 – an overall lead of 89 – after the visitors were bowled out for 221 on the opening day. Earlier in the day Kirk Edwards, hit 55 off just 64 balls in a 93-run partnership with Brathwaite.
After the day both Brathwaite and Bravo said they were satisfied with their efforts.
“It was a good moment for me to get a Test century for the West Indies with my parents in the stands. I wanted to go out and get a good score under my belt. It has been quite a while since I got a big score, so I really wanted to do something special for the team and it all worked out today,” said Bravo.
“I was happy that together with Kraigg, we could put the team in a strong position. I back myself against the spin and when the ball is in my area it was easy to play through the line. Kirk Edwards gave me the confidence to play my shots when I saw the way he took on the New Zealand bowlers.”
Brathwaite, playing in his 11th Test match, said he was confident from the start, even though he was nervous in the 90s.
“I’m quite happy. I played 10 Tests before and I was always looking for that elusive century. We lost the first game in Jamaica so we had to come here and redeem ourselves. My job as opener was to give the team a solid start and then look to go on and get a big score for the team,” said Brathwaite.
“The ball was doing a lot early on and I knew once I was able to get through that period things would get a lot better and easier for me. I was confident and I knew I just had to stay focussed and I would get a score. In the meetings we said we wanted to get some hundred-run partnerships and 50-run partnerships and that is what we got.”
He added: “I enjoyed batting with Bravo. He spoke to me a lot and told me to keep it straight and make it count and that worked out great for us.”
FULL SQUAD
Denesh Ramdin (Captain)
Sulieman Benn
Jermaine Blackwood
Kraigg Brathwaite
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Kirk Edwards
Shannon Gabriel
Chris Gayle
Jason Holder
Leon Johnson
Shane Shillingford
Kemar Roach
Jerome Taylor
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Ottis Gibson (Head Coach)
Sir Richard Richardson (Team Manager)
Sir Curtly Ambrose (Bowling Consultant)
Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach)
Andre Coley (Assistant Coach)
C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist)
Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Co-ordinator)
Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst)
Philip Spooner (Media Manager)
Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist)
SERIES SCHEDULE
June 8-12: First Test – New Zealand won by 186 runs at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 16-20: Second Test – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
June 26-30: Third Test – Kensington Oval, Barbados
July 5: First T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica
July 6: Second T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica
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