ICC World Cup 2019 | Devastated not to get over the line, but also giving thanks for the performance, says Carlos Brathwaite

ICC World Cup 2019 | Devastated not to get over the line, but also giving thanks for the performance, says Carlos Brathwaite

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Carlos Brathwaite has stated that while he is devastated for the failure to take Windies over the line, he has taken the performance in his chin and moved on. Brathwaite has also added that he was always confident about the fact that they could win the game and a bit of patience was required.

Brathwaite played one inning of a lifetime and scored perhaps one of the greatest World Cup centuries of all-time to ensure that the team went agonisingly close to New Zealand’s total. When he was dismissed it was just a matter of one hit but Trent Boult ended Windies’ dream with a solid catch at deep. While Brathwaite is surely not happy about the loss, he has given himself full marks for his efforts.

"Everyone believed we could get over the line. I thought it had enough bat on it. I was willing it to go up and up and up. It's a game of margins. One or two yards more, we would have been victorious tonight. Devastated not to get over the line, but also giving thanks for the performance. I'm not going to beat myself up, because the ball should have gone for six and we should have won,” Brathwaite was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

While Brathwaite's hundred was the one for the ages and quite understandably, the star turn of a captivating match, their lower-order played their part too. Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas helped add 122 runs for the last three wickets while Brathwaite and Thomas put on 51 for the final one, taking their side to a close victory. Brathwaite revealed the strategy behind the decision and how they planned the run chase.

"As soon as Sheldon got out, the conversation between Oshane and myself was "I'll do the scoring. Myself and the lower order, we talked about it. Everything that we talked about happened, except getting over the line. The fight that the lower order showed was commendable."

"I did tell Oshane about it. Told him we had to remain positive, we're one hit away. Still watch the ball, still react. If it's not a ball I can get a six off, try to get a single. He was on high alert. But if it came to my area, I'd try to finish the game on that ball, which I did."

The hinge point of Brathwaite's rise to the international scene came on the famous Kolkata night in 2016 when he hit Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes in the final over to win the World T20 for West Indies. After that, he went into oblivion and his batting stats in ODIs was nowhere close to giving him the reputation of an all-rounder. However, the performance at Old Trafford has made him a player worth million dollars. 

"Obviously, I know I can [do it]. I never stopped working. Kept working hard. It's good to see your hard work pay off. For me personally, for my confidence, as a result of all the hard work I've been putting in, it's finally good that it comes to fruition. Devastated not to get over the line, but also giving thanks for the performance. I'm not going to beat myself up, because the ball should have gone for six and we should have won."

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