The West Indies make their headway to the final of the one-day International tri-series by crushing South Africa by 100 runs on Friday at the Kensignton Oval Barbados. Darren Bravo led the charge for the West Indies with his century, then later on paceman Shannon Gabriel came to the party with his three wickets. The World T20 Champions will now meet the 50 over World Champions (Australia) at the same venue on Sunday.
The elegant Left-hander Darren Bravo finally managed to showcase some of his talent in the limited overs Cricket as he struck a brilliant 102 off 103 balls including 12 fours and 4 sixes, it was his third one-day ton which lifted the West Indies from early trouble at 21-4 to 285 all out in 49.5 overs. Bravo shared a fifth wicket stand of 156 with Kieron Pollard, who chipped in with 62 off 71 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.
Proteas chase was undermined by the fiery Shannon Gabriel as the visitors were bowled out for 185 in 46 overs. The spin wizard Sunil Narine and the all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite supported Gabriel very well with their figures of 3-28 and 2-39 respectively.
Gabriel, clocked near 150 kilometers per hour consistently and was bowling with intent and purpose, provided the crucial early scalps of Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and A.B. de Villiers as the Proteas slumped to 28-3.
Narine soon joined the party and claimed the prize scalp of Hashim Amla by trapping him in front and captain Jason Holder had J.P. Duminy fending to gully at 51-5.
It was one sorry batting performance by the Proteas top order as Farhaan Behariden top-scored with 35, Wayne Parnell contributed 28 and there was a late flourish by the last pair of Morne Morkel (32 not out) and Imran Tahir (29) but there was no way back for South Africa.
Earlier, the tourists dominated the first half hour, the 21-year-old Rabada took 3-31, that really silenced the home crowd as the hosts top order slumped to 21-4. But Bravo, who survived a difficult chance at fine leg by Parnell off Morne Morkel when he was on 11, rebuilt the innings with the fellow Trinidadian Pollard.
Captain Holder, with 40 off 46 balls, and fellow all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, 33 not out, boosted the lower order in adding 54 for the seventh wicket and by virtue of all these cameos West Indies ended up with a stiff total of 285 on the board.
Brief Scores: West Indies 285 in 49.5 overs (Darren Bravo 102, Kieron Pollard 62; Kagiso Rabada 3-31, Chris Morris 3-63) beat South Africa 185 (Farhaan Behardien 35, Morne Morkel 32*; Shannon Garbriel 3-17, Sunil Narine 3-28) by 100 runs