Bravo says Lara and Edwards have inspired him

Port-of-Spain (Trinidad), June 18 (IANS/CMC) Darren Bravo says confidence gained from watching Kirk Edwards take on the New Zealand spinners and advice given by batting legend Brian Lara inspired him to achieve his first Test century in the Caribbean.

Bravo scored a shot-filled 109 on his home soil to help West Indies dominate the second day of the second Test here Tuesday, reports CMC.

He credited inputs from Lara before the game and Edwards' approach that gave him the confidence to play through the line and attack the spinners.

"He (Lara) just told me that it's very important that I concentrate as much as possible. He had been looking at me bat for quite some time and he believed my concentration tended to lack a little bit," Bravo told reporters.

"He told me that whenever I get past 30, my average tends to be in the high 70s and stuff. All he was trying to say was that whenever you get a start, it's very important to carry on. I listen to him, whenever he gives me advice; I really look into the information deeply. It is a great feeling and I want to thank him very, very much."

Bravo struck 11 fours and four sixes in a knock spanning 190 minutes and 155 balls, putting on 182 for the second wicket with Kraigg Brathwaite who scored his maiden century.

He said his confidence grew watching Edwards smack three sixes off Mark Craig on his way to a 55-ball half-century.

Bravo himself started off with a brace of fours against legspinner Ish Sodhi and then struck the bowler for three sixes within nine deliveries during his 109.

"To be honest, I back myself against spin. I know exactly when the ball is in my area, I am able to execute my shots properly," he said.

"I just back myself. I thought Kirk Edwards gave me that confidence that it's easy to play through the line on that sort of wicket and I just went in and backed myself towards the spin."

Prior to this Test, Bravo had four fifties in 11 home games and the Trinidadian batsman said he was happy to reach the landmark in front of home crowd.

"It's something I had in the back of my mind before the start of the series. That is probably the more special hundred, more so in front of your family,"he said.

"It was a great feeling. I am happy that myself and Brathwaite, we were able to put the team in a good position".

--IANS/CMC

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