DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – All-rounder Dwayne Bravo believes the recent two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka has given him important momentum for his upcoming campaign in South Africa’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
The 32-year-old is set to turn out for Sunfoil Dolphins tomorrow when they face Cape Cobras in Centurion. He is coming off a strong all-round performance for West Indies where he helped them win the second and final T20 last Wednesday in Colombo and helped them level the series.
“I feel good. I hadn’t played cricket since July. I was a bit rusty for the first game in Sri Lanka but it won’t take me long before I get back into my stride,” Bravo told a media conference here yesterday.
“I was happy that I could help my team win the last game. It was a very tough tour for the West Indies in Sri Lanka.
“Coming here after that performance makes me feel a lot more comfortable in myself. I’m not at my best but I’m close. It will just take me a few games and I’ll be back in my stride.”
Bravo endured an average season last year for the Dolphins, managing just 172 runs at an average of 21 and taking only seven wickets at an economy rate of eight an over.
However, he sees this season as the perfect opportunity to redeem himself and also help the Dolphins win the competition.
“It’s good to be back. I spoke to my agent after my last spell here and I said that if the opportunity came again I definitely want to come back to represent the Dolphins,” he noted.
“For me I have some unfinished business that I would like to take care of.”
Bravo is one of the world’s most sought after T20 players. A right-hander, he can score quickly in the lower order and as a medium pacer, is well known for his bowling at the death.
And with regular death bowler Kyle Abbott called up for South Africa on their current tour of India, Bravo will be expected to perform that role.
“Being able to control the later stages of a game, I fancy my chances, and I like those situations when the batsmen are on the go and I have to use my skills,” he explained.
“I have to out-think the batter. Those are the things that push me and bring the best out of me.”
Bravo will be replacing on-fire batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has so far struck two unbeaten hundreds and a half-century in his four innings for the Dolphins, but has come to the end of his contract.
Pietersen’s last match will be Sunday’s clash against Cobras and Bravo hopes he can play alongside the England batsman in his swansong.
“I’m looking forward to the game on Sunday, if I get an opportunity to play,” he said. “To play alongside Kevin Pietersen would be a dream come true for me.”
The Dolphins lead the Ram Slam with 16 points, eight clear of the second placed Titans.
