Bravo ready for Nagico title

Classy West Indies and T&T Red Force batsman Darren Bravo will be in the local team when it faces Barbados Pride in the Nagico Super50 final at the Queen’s Park Oval, tomorrow.

Bravo, whose 95 was the foundation for the Red Force’s 54-run victory over the Guyana Jaguars in the first semifinal on Wednesday, suffered a thigh strain during the innings and did not take the field when the Guyanese chased down T&T’s eventual 259/9.

However, Bravo confirmed yesterday he will be ready. “When I was on 52, I turned for a second run but felt a slight strain. But once I put some ice on it and have the phsyio take a look, I should be ready,” he said.

The Red Force made light work of the Guyana Jaguars to land their third successive Nagico Super50 finals and will be looking to repeat as champions of the three-year old tournament in tomorrow’s final. 

 Bravo’s  95, along with 43 from West Indies teammate Denesh Ramdin and 33 from Kjorn Ottley were backed up by a sound bowling performance that scuttled the visitors for 205 from 48.3 overs.

Off-spinner Jon Russ Jagessar underlined his growing reputation with 3/36, while Narsingh Deonarine (2-35) and Akeem Hosein (2-42), proved a handful.

 Guyana lost their top three batsmen for 42 runs with Deonarine sending back opener Assad Fudadin (9) and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul (6) before skipper Jason Mohammed accounted for Vishaul Singh (20).

The Guyanese middle showed some fight through a partnership of 65 between skipper Leon Johnson (20) and Anthony Bramble (51). But once Johnson became the first of Jagessar’s victims, and Bramble, the first for Hosein, Guyana never recovered, with wickets falling regularly.

Earlier, Bravo needed 108 balls and struck four fours and five sixes en route to his top score, while Ramdin, with whom he added 90 for the fourth wicket struck five fours and faced 44 balls for his 43. Bravo’s partnership with Ottley was worth 85 for the third wicket with Ottley needing 62 balls. he struck three fours.

Skipper Mohammed paid tribute to his team, describing the effort as satisfying. “It’s wonderful to see how the senior players have adapted and are making a difference. Bravo’s innings was important but so too, were Ramdin’s and Ottley’s. I think our bowlers hit the right areas. I was a bit disappointed with the number of catches we dropped but hopefully we can correct this in the final.”

Bravo called on the public to come out and support the team. “It’s going to be a good match and we want the fans to come out and support us.”

SCOREBOARD

T&T Inns
E Lewis c Bramble b Jacobs    20
K Hope c Johnson b Jacobs    15
K Ottley c Johnson b Motie    33
D Bravo c Reifer b Permaul    95
D Ramdin c Wintz b Reifer    43
J Mohammed c Bramble b Wintz    3
N Deonarine c Johnson b Wintz    7
A Hosein c Reifer b Permaul    3
M Richards not out    16
R Emrit c Barnwell b Permaul    4
J Jaggessar not out    0
Extras (b1, lb4, w15)    20
Total (for 9 wkts 50ovs)    259
Fall of wkts: 39, 44, 129, 219. 227, 236, 236, 242, 253. 
Bowling: P Wintz 10-0-67-2, S Jacobs 6-1-12-2, R Reifer 10-1-39-1, C Barnwell 6-0-27-0, V Permaul 10-0-56-3,  L Johnson 3-0-19-0, G Motie 5-0-34-1.   

Guyana Inns
V Singh st Ramdin b Mohammed    20
A Fudadin  lbw Deonarine    9
S Chanderpaul  b Deonarine    2
L Johnson lbw Jaggessar    20
A Bramble st Ramdin b Hosein    19
R Reifer b Jaggessar    12
C Barnwell b Emrit    22
V Permaul c Ramdin b Hosein    6
P Wintz  c Hope b Jaggessar    26
G Motie not out    17
J Jacobs injured
Extras (10w, 6lb)    16
Total (for 9 wkts -48.3)    205.
Fall of wkts: 26, 38, 42, 107, 119, 141, 154, 165, 205.    
Bowling:  R Emrit 9-1-36-1, Jaggessar 10-2-36-3, Narsingh 9-1-35-2, Richards 7-0-25-0, Mohammed 4-0-25-1, Hosein 10-0-42-2.
Result: T&T won by 54 runs.
Man of the match: Darren Bravo.