Bravo's belief too much for Chargers

T&T seamer Dwayne Bravo was always confident he could defend a target of eight runs from the last over.
Small contributions right through the order helped T&T reach a competitive 149 for seven - and although the Chargers lost early wickets, Adam Gilchrist (51) put on 55 with Rohit Sharma (25) to set up a close finish.

By the time the Chargers needed those eight runs off the last six deliveries, they had lost seven wickets.

Bravo, who had already bagged two, claimed a third, effected a run-out and crucially conceded only four runs as the Chargers were restricted to 146 for nine.

T&T not only knocked the Chargers out but kept Somerset Sabres in the tournament, as group runners-up.

Bravo said: "Funnily enough this morning at breakfast I had a chat with the manager and I said to him in a match situation if there were 10 runs to get and I was bowling the last over, I'd back myself to defend that.

Match in pictures

"I believe in myself; the team believes in my ability to restrict the opposition. I knew just what I had to do, and did it."

The all-rounder is nonetheless aware T&T still have plenty to prove.

"There is a lot that we can be improve on - but as a unit, we are very good and we are looking to the next round," he said.

"It was a great team effort, and we played very good cricket.

"We beat the IPL champions, and it's a great feeling for us."

The Chargers frontline bowlers Fidel Edwards and RP Singh leaked runs at the start, the latter struggling with his line and run-up.

Captain Adam Gilchrist blamed the poor start for the defeat.

"It's disappointing to go out without even one victory, and to get so close a couple of times is frustrating," he said.

"In the last match it was one wicket off the last ball and in this one just three runs. It's a very fine line.

"We just didn't do the basics right in both games, but particularly in this game.

"We did well to restrict T&T to the total that we did. But early on, we were sloppy; there were misfields, and we didn't do the little things which get you into winning positions with bat and ball."