Brathwaite says always on the hunt for a hundred

Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), June 18 (IANS/CMC) Opener Kraigg Brathwaite said he was always on the hunt for the elusive three-digit score after posting his first Test century for West Indies against New Zealand on the second day of the second Test match here.

Braithwaite scored 129 and added a record 182 for the fourth wicket with Darren Bravo who scored 109 as the home side ended the day comfortably placed at 310/5 Tuesday, reports CMC.

"I'm quite happy. I played 10 Tests before and I was always looking for that elusive century," said Brathwaite.

"We lost the first game in Jamaica so we had to come here and redeem ourselves. My job as opener was to give the team a solid start and then look to go on and get a big score for the team".

Brathwaite, who replaced the out-of-form Kieran Powell for this Test, faced 258 deliveries in an innings lasting six hours and 11 minutes, and which included 13 fours.

He lost his wicket just before the close of an extended final session in fading light tamely tapping a catch back to Trent Boult.

Playing in his 11th Test match, Brathwaite said he was confident from the start, even though he was nervous in the 90s.

"The ball was doing a lot early on and I knew once I was able to get through that period things would get a lot better and easier for me," said Brathwaite.

"I was confident and I knew I just had to stay focussed and I would get a score. In the meetings we said we wanted to get some hundred-run partnerships and 50-run partnerships and that is what we got."

--IANS/CMC

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