BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
Stand-in West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has praised his side's exciting seven-wicket win over Australia in Friday's rain-hit Twenty20 International but said they were already looking forward to the crucial one-day international (ODI) series.
In a match reduced to 11 overs per-side after rain delayed the start of the match at Kensington Oval here for almost two and a half hours, West Indies overhauled Aus-tralia's 97 for three to reach 102 with 11 balls to spare.
Credit to everyone
"It's nice to come out on top. I must give credit to everyone. I think the guys played tremendous through the start," Bravo said.
"It was nice to know we gained our focus quickly (after the rain delay), came out bowled first and restricted them to a total that we knew our batsmen could get.
"The support from the guys on and off the field was tremendous [along with] the support from the people here in Barbados (who came) out and supported us in these conditions, I must give thanks to all of them."
Pose threat?
West Indies will turn their attention to the five-match ODI series against the Aussies which bowls off tomorrow at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St Vincent.
Bravo said with the West Indies expected to be back to full strength after several key players missed the T20I, he believed they would pose a serious threat to the Aussies.
"It's going to be exciting, do not forget that we are playing against the number one team in the world but from the next game we're going to be at full strength," the dynamic all-rounder said.
"Chris (Gayle), (Ramnaresh) Sarwan, Shiv (Chanderpaul) everyone will be ready to go and it is going to be a very good series. We are looking forward to it and enjoying it while it lasts."
Lauded 'juniors'
Bravo also hailed the performances of the junior members of the squad, who helped to set up the Windies' triumph on Friday.
Fast bowler Kemar Roach, in his first match for the West Indies, finished with two for 29 and young opener Xavier Marshall continued his good form from the Test series by stroking a frenetic 15-ball 36 that earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.
"I said it to the guys in the dressing room, there is no Gayle, no Sarwan, no Chanderpaul, there are opportunities for other guys to step up and make a name for themselves and it's nice to see Marshall get a good score," said Bravo. "It's nice to see them take the opportunity and grab it with both hands. That is good for West Indies cricket and once we keep in that vein, I think we will have a good side for the future."
Grenada will play hosts to the second and third ODIs on June 27 and 29, with the final two matches carded for Warner Park in St Kitts on July 4 and 6.
