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Watch: Young Dwayne Bravo’s magic ball to Yuvraj Singh that ended India’s 17-match unbeaten run in 2006

Dwayne Bravo
by Wisden Staff 3 minute read

Watch: The Dwayne Bravo slower ball that won West Indies a thriller and changed the course of a bilateral series in 2006.

In ODIs India were on a roll since their home series against Sri Lanka in the 2005/06 season. They defeated the likes of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and England by decent margins as well as holding South Africa 2-2 at home. With less than a year to go until the World Cup, the side seemed to have found the right mix of talent and experience.

They found a formula for their success, becoming extremely successful in chasing targets. They had won 16 consecutive ODIs while chasing at the end of the England series in April 2006. This number was to become 17 when they beat West Indies in the first ODI at Sabina Park.

West Indies on the other hand had experienced bit of a dip since their majestic Champions Trophy triumph against England in 2004. Needless to say, India were firm favourites when the second ODI began at Sabina Park.

Buoyed by their successful record while chasing, India chose to take the field. Their bowlers were soon all over the West Indies but Ramnaresh Sarwan held firm at one end. The Men in Maroon reached 198-9 on a sluggish pitch.

In response, India didn’t get going as smoothly as they would’ve liked. They were 60-4 after 17 overs, and 130-6 after 37.3 overs. Yuvraj Singh battled through though, getting India closer to the target even as wickets fell at the other end.

The pendulum had swung in the hosts’ favour when Harbhajan Singh was lost at 187 and India were nine wickets down.

However, Yuvraj seemed to have other plans. The final over was bowled by Bravo who had given away 20 runs in his three overs up until that point with India needing 11 to win. Munaf Patel, the number 11 for India, got an inside edge off the first ball, leaving the equation to 10 off five balls.

Yuvraj had an extremely lucky break off the second ball, he tried to go towards the leg-side but the ball took his top-edge and flew beyond the reach of the keeper, Carlton Baugh, towards the boundary. Yuvraj was ready for the next delivery, moving away from his stumps and smashing Bravo for a four through covers. India needed two off three and the tourists were favourites once more, especially with Yuvraj on strike.

However, despite an indifferent game until that point the young all-rounder produced a moment of magic to seal the game.

Even as Yuvraj advanced down the track, Bravo bowled a slower-ball yorker. The left-hander went to play towards the leg-side, but was outfoxed and the ball crashed into his stumps. Bravo and West Indies players were ecstatic at the result, even as Yuvraj sat stunned.

Tony Cozier, on-air, said: “Oh my goodness gracious. Miracle! Absolute miracle! Dwayne Bravo is the hero! From zero to hero for Dwayne Bravo. Being struck by Yuvraj for two successive fours…celebrations all around Sabina Park. And Yuvraj is stunned.”

The win levelled the series for West Indies; they would go on to win it 4-1. India were to endure a rotten run after this loss, failing miserably in several ODI assignments in the second half of 2006 including the Champions Trophy, and the ODI series in South Africa, before famously falling at the first hurdle at the 2007 World Cup.

You can watch Dwayne Bravo’s magic wicket here:

 

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