BRISBANE, Australia, CMC – West Indies batsman Dwayne Bravo slammed a whirlwind 36 to help Victorian Bushrangers beat Queensland Bulls by three runs under the Duckworth/Lewis Method in the curtain-raising match of the Twenty20 Big Bash on yesterday.
The right-hander faced just 18 balls and carved out two fours and three sixes to propel the Bushrangers to 157 for eight off their allotted 20 overs at the Gabba.
Queensland had made a daring reply at 121 for six when rain ended their threat after 16 overs, handing the Bushrangers an important opening win.
Asked to bat first, Victoria suffered a dreadful start when they lost their openers Rob Quiney (4) and Brad Hodge (0), along with David Hussey (0) with just five runs on the board in the third over.
New Zealander Ross Taylor then hauled Victoria back into the match with a sensational 58 from 36 balls with four fours and three sixes as he posted 77 for the third wicket with captain Cameron White who scored 19.
When Taylor and White perished in the space of seven balls to leave Victoria on 90 for five in the 14th over, Bravo dominated a 47-run partnership with Andrew McDonald (23) to give his side impetus.
Ryan Harris claimed three for 23 while James Hopes snared two for 39.
Openers Hopes (22) and Ben Dunk (18) then gave the Bulls a solid 43-run start off just 26 balls before they lost four wickets for 13 runs in the space 20 balls to crash to 56 for four.
They were revived by a 34-run stand between Craig Philipson (33 not out) and Andre Symonds (16) but two quick wickets saw them tumble to 100 for six in the 14th over.
Ben Cutting’s cameo nine-ball, unbeaten 16 along with Philipson’s controlled knock, were engineering a fightback when the weather intervened and found Victoria wanting.