Young Bravo gets T&T off to winning start

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Trinidad and Tobago, led by an impressive century from 21-year-old Darren Bravo, flexed their muscles yesterday in front of a small gathering to beat the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) in their Group A West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional 50-over encounter at Kensington Park.

The two-time defending champions restricted the CCC team to 200 for eight off their allotted 50 overs on a sluggish pitch, before cruising to victory in 44 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Trinidad and Tobago's captain, Daren Ganga, conceded that it was somewhat challenging due to unusual conditions.

"It was a bit challenging, the conditions are conditions we don't expect from Jamaica," Ganga cited. "We are more accustomed to balls coming on and quick outfields and we had to assess and adjust, and I think we did that well," he added.

The Romel Currency-led CCC team got off to a very slow start after winning the toss and electing to bat and found themselves in early trouble at 24 for two.

Veteran Floyd Reifer and Currency, however, brought some stability to the innings as they shared in a 114-run partnership. Currency was the first to go, caught by Sherwin Ganga off the bowling of Dwayne Bravo for 49 (104 balls).

Reifer fell just one short of a century in the penultimate over of the innings. He was caught by Dave Mohammed off the bowling of Kieron Pollard. His 99 came off 108 balls. The score was then 196. CCC added four more runs for the loss of two further wickets.

Ravi Rampaul was the pick of the Trinidadian bowlers, finishing with four for 36 off 10 overs. Pollard captured two for five off his only over, while Samuel Badree and Dwayne Bravo got the other two wickets to fall.

At Trinidad and Tobago's turn at the crease, they lost Dwayne Bravo with the score at 17 caught in the gully by Gilford Moore off the bowling of Barris Hutchinson.

His dismissal brought to the wicket his younger brother Darren Bravo, who went about steadying the ship with opener Adrian Barath. The two put on 59 runs for the second wicket before Barath went for a pull and was caught by Chadwick Walton off Moore's bowling for 41 (66).

Darren Bravo was given a life in the 25th over when he was put down off Ryan Austin's bowling. The CCC team was made to rue this miss as the young batsman went on to score his second first-class one-day century, seeing his team home to victory with an unbeaten 104 (121). His knock included 4 fours and 6 sixes. His captain provided good support with a knock of 36 (60).

"It is a good feeling (to score a century) as it was important that someone bat through the innings," Bravo said.