Darren Bravo hammered six boundaries and 10 sixes during his match-winning knock of 94 not out

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Darren Bravo put on a show in St Lucia as he walloped an unbeaten 94 off 36 balls to lead the Trinbago Knight Riders to a thrilling five-wicket win over the St Lucia Stars.

Bravo was well supported by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who thumped a 42-ball 68.

Being put in to bat first, the Stars made a brisk start to their innings as Andre Fletcher and David Warner amassed a 49-run partnership under six overs before Fletcher was dismissed by Shannon Gabriel for 17.

Warner and Rahkeem Cornwall kept the runs flowing with a 79-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries.

However, Cornwall was unable to convert his fifty into a bigger score as he was caught behind off the bowling of Javon Scantlebury-Searles for 53, which came off 29 balls and included two boundaries and five sixes.

Warner and Stars captain Kieron Pollard ensured their side concluded their innings with a bang as they forged an unbeaten 84-run stand, during which Pollard raced past his fifty.

Warner ended up making 72 off 55 balls, which included four boundaries and three sixes, while Pollard remained undefeated on 65 off 23 deliveries, which included a boundary and seven sixes.

Thanks to Warner, Pollard and Cornwall, the Stars finished on 212/2 off their 20 overs.

Scantlebury-Searles and Gabriel picked up one wicket apiece.

Chasing 213 to win, the Knight Riders didn’t get off to a good start as openers Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn were both sent packing by Cornwall for nine and four runs respectively.

McCullum and Colin Munro steadied things with a 51-run partnership before Munro was caught by Chandrapaul Hemraj at deep square leg off the bowling of Pollard for 25.

Bravo and McCullum began to up the ante after Munro’s dismissal as they amassed a 137-run stand in just under nine overs, during both batsmen registered their half-centuries.

McCullum ended up scoring 68 off 42 balls, which included three boundaries and six sixes, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Mitchell McClenaghan.

McClenaghan removed Scantlebury-Searles three balls later, which led to the Knight Riders needing three runs to win off the last over.

Only two runs were scored off the first four balls, but Denesh Ramdin finished things off with a six off the penultimate ball of the match.

Bravo, however, was the Knight Riders’ hero as he finished unbeaten on 94 off 36 balls, which included six boundaries and 10 sixes.

Cornwall and McClenaghan took two wickets apiece, while Pollard claimed one.