Bravo and Sarwan make the difference
One-day international bests from stand-in captain Dwayne Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan earned West Indies a series victory over Zimbabwe with a game to spare.
Bravo - leading in place of Darren Sammy, who has been rested for this rubber along with Chris Gayle - returned 6-43 from 10 overs as the tourists registered a respectable 273 for eight after winning the toss.
Sarwan then accelerated from a steady fifty to three figures and was unbeaten on 120 in a seven-wicket win that came with an over to spare at St George’s, Granada.
Stand-in skipper Dwayne Bravo led by example with 6-43 before Ramnaresh Sarwan also produced an ODI-best with 120 not out
Sarwan, who this month made two ducks in three ODIs with Australia on his return after a long international absence, should have been run out via a direct hit on 53. However, Peter Nero did not consult the third umpire and ruled the batsman not out.
That would have left the Windies 121 for three in the 30th over, but Sarwan instead hit the winning run to assume a 2-0 series lead ahead of Tuesday’s third match at the same venue.
Sarwan earlier shared a 111-run opening stand with Kieran Powell, who was caught behind off Hamilton Masakadza for 57. Two balls later Masakadza likewise snared Darren Bravo for a duck.
Soon Sarwan was reprieved after Regis Chakabva capitalised on the batsman’s risky single to mid-off. He was then supported by Narsingh Deonarine, who was run out for 42, before Kieron Pollard’s 20-ball 41 not out ensured victory.
Vusi Sibanda had given the tourists a solid start with the bat but, having seen opening partner Chamu Chibhabha castled by Sunil Narine, was bowled by Dwayne Bravo for 51. Two deliveries later Bravo pinned opposite number Brendan Taylor lbw for nought.
Masakadza and Craig Ervine responded with a 110-run alliance until the former, on 60, top-edged a Bravo off-cutter to third man. Max Waller briefly attacked but was bowled by Kemar Roach for a brisk 26 and, in the next over, Bravo dismissed Ervine for 80 in similar fashion.
Bravo again struck twice in an over, the last of the innings, to have Chakabva and Kyle Jarvis held in what was a significant improvement on Zimbabwe’s 181 all out in Friday’s 156-run defeat.
