Bravo says WI keeping feet on gas

ST GEORGE’S — Captain Dwayne Bravo says West Indies will attempt a clean sweep when they play Zimbabwe in the third and final One- Day International at the National stadium today.

West Indies have already won the series after coasting to a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI Sunday to lead 2-0.

However captain Bravo says his charges intend to keep their feet on the gas and press for an unbeaten record in the series.

“We are not going to look back and say we win two nil, we win the series and take our foot off the gas. It’s not going to happen,” Bravo told reporters during a post-match news conference.

“We are going to come out Tuesday again and whatever we do bat first or bowl first, try and put on another great display good all round performance a great team performance and try to finish the series three nil and that’s our game and we are looking to move forward”.

Ramnaresh Sarwan scored an unbeaten 120 to carry West Indies to their target of 274 off 49 overs after the visitors made 273 for eight.

Medium pacer Bravo was the main destroyer of Zimbabwe’s innings collecting career-best figures of six for 43 from his ten overs, to claim Man-of-the-Match honours.

“I am not back as yet. I still have a lot of work to do. Getting six wickets…. yes it’s a great feeling. Great achievement personally but I would not say that I am back to the best that I was before,” Bravo explained.

“The six wickets will help. Definitely will get my confidence back and I could always push forward and hopefully things can continue to get better and hopefully no injuries to hamper me, that’s my main concern”.

Bravo was high in praise for Sarwan who returned to form with a well paced innings. “Since he returned [after a contentious 18-month absence] in Australia and in the first game here, Ramnaresh Sarwan didn’t get to bat long. He asked the selectors if he could come here early and play the practice game, so he wants that opportunity to score, he wants to perform. So it was a decision by the management, and we asked Sarwan if he wanted the opportunity [to open] and he said ‘yeah’.

“His record speaks for itself in the one-day format and even in the longer form. It was good that once he got his hundred he stayed till the end; once Sarwan bats like that, we’re always going to win.”

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor said his team had improved from the first match when it was bowled out for 156. He said he was looking for more improvement on the 270-odd which was made in Sunday’s second contest. 

“Definitely the guys put their hands up and fought harder Sunday,” he said. “Losing myself and Vusi [Sibanda] up front probably set us back by 20 to 30 runs, otherwise we could have scored more than 300. [Tendai] Chatara can show some pride in his performance, but there’s still room for improvement. [Natsai] Mushangwe bowled in tough situations, and to go for just over 40 was excellent. There’s a lot of cricket left, and we’ll be looking to do our country proud.”

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