Bryan Davis praised the fighting spirit of the West Indian players

FORMER West Indies batsman Bryan Davis praised the fighting spirit of the West Indian players, especially Carlos Brathwaite, after the regional team almost pulled off a remarkable victory over New Zealand in the World Cup, yesterday.

West Indies were 164/7 in the 27th over and looked as though they had no chance of chasing 292. Brathwaite and Roach then put on 47 for the eighth wicket, before Sheldon Cottrell joined Brathwaite to add 34 runs for the ninth wicket. At 245/9, West Indies looked as though they would not get close to the target, but Oshane Thomas joined Brathwaite to further frustrate New Zealand.

Brathwaite was unfortunately the last man out as West Indies were dismissed for 286 in 49 overs to lose by five runs. Brathwaite scored 101 off 82 deliveries with nine fours and five sixes. Earlier, Kane Williamson cracked 148 to guide New Zealand to 291/8 batting first.

Davis said, “I thought it was a brilliant effort at the end, I did not expect West Indies to have that type of fight. When they collapsed in the middle, I thought ‘Here we go again,’ but when they fought back so well through Brathwaite, Roach (and) Cottrell it was great. Even Oshane Thomas came out and played the way he supposed to play. They showed sensible cricket and I was very happy with that. All in all I would give West Indies their kudos for playing well, they found themselves in a bad position and then they fought back.”

Completing a match has been a challenge for West Indies, as the regional team lost by 15 runs to Australia earlier in the tournament after being in a strong position. Davis said losing and winning matches is a habit.

“We not accustom to winning and if we not accustom to winning therefore you can’t finish off the games. Once we could get through that barrier and win one or two we could carry on from there. When you get in a losing habit it is just like winning.

Davis said teams that win consistently know how to get over the line and come out victorious. “Getting a winning habit you turn the game around all the time and win them.”

Bryan Davis was an opening batsman of tremendous ability who played four Tests against Australia in 1964-65. He opened in three of them, with his best performance coming in his first match, in front of his home crowd at Port-of-Spain, when he made 54 and 58, adding 116 and 91 for the first wicket with Conrad Hunte. Despite this, and 68 at Bridgetown, he wasn't picked again, although he did tour India in 1966-67 without playing in any of the Tests. He won selection for that trip largely thanks to him carrying his bat for 188 for North against South Trinidad. A useful legspinner, he played two seasons for Glamorgan in 1969 (when they won the Championship) and 1970, passing 1000 runs on both occasions.
Martin Williamson