DUNEDIN, New Zealand (CMC) – West Indies batsman Darren Bravo has conceded that his maiden double-century against New Zealand was inspired by a less-than-impressive tour of India and a promise he made to opener Kieran Powell.

He was dismissed for a career-best 218 on the fifth morning of the Test. His unbeaten 210 overnight anchored the Windies to 443 for six in their second innings at the close on the fourth day at University Oval for a lead of 47.
“I remember telling (teammate) Kieran Powell that I’m going to score a double hundred in New Zealand and I just backed myself,” said Bravo.
“I knew I was going to have a special innings in New Zealand.”
The 24-year-old left-handed batsman, whose previous highest score in 26 Tests was 195 against Bangladesh two years ago, in Mirpur, put behind the patchy form from the preceding tour of India and fulfilled his rich talent with a near 9½-hour innings of supreme class.
“I didn’t really perform well on our preceding trip in India,” said Bravo.
“But I was spending some time, like an hour, hour-and-a-half at the crease, but I wasn’t scoring big runs.”
Bravo admitted to a bit of nerves when he moved to 199 and was kept waiting a few balls to cross the 200-run threshold.
He eventually steered leg-spinner Ish Sodhi to third man for two and became the seventh West Indies batsman to collect a double hundred against New Zealand in a Test.
“While the bowler was running up and all the spectators were clapping. There was a little bit of nerves, but I didn’t want to do anything rash. I knew a single would be right around the corner,” said Bravo.
“It was a great feeling. It’s one of my most special moments and hopefully, on Saturday (today), I can continue from where I left off. I set myself to bat out the day.”