CPL 2017: Darren Bravo, McCullum Eclipse Chris Gayle’s 93 to Register Terrific Win
Aug 24, 2017 at 5:02 PM
It was an exciting night at the Caribbean Premier League, as the Trinbago Knight Riders defeated the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots by eight wickets in a match shortened by several rain intervals.
It was power hitting at its very best from both the sides, as the spectators in the Warner Park at Basserete were treated to a scintillating display of strokeplay despite the fact that only 18.2 overs were played on the day.
It was the brutal hitting from Brendon McCullum and Darren Bravo which helped Trinbago to chase down the required target of 86 in 5.4 overs. Earlier in the day, the big man from Jamaica, Chris Gayle had helped his team St Kitts to a commendable 162/3 in 13 overs. His innings was studded with five fours and eight humongous sixes while his opening partner Evin Leis also played a breezy hand of 39 of a mere 14 deliveries which contained three fours and four sixes.
The match was interrupted on several occasions, and when the target was finally revised to 86 in six overs, the Trinbago franchise felt it was an achievable task. Brendon McCullum and Darren Bravo struck nine sixes between them. The southpaw who gave a resemblance of Lara at the start of his career just toyed with the bowling during his ten ball stay and what’s astounding that the left-hander smashed six sixes during his innings.
The D/L method helped the Trinbago as any target shortened by rain with full ten wickets in hand gives an advantage to the team batting first but let’s take nothing away from the brilliant display of batsmanship by McCullum and especially Darren Bravo. The chase was interrupted at 34/2 when the Trinbago team was 34/2 in 3.1 overs, and at that time the St Nevis had all the momentum.
But after the rain break and with the shortened target the duo of Baz and Bravo went berserk as chased down the reduced target with ease.