Dwayne Bravo

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)

West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo said on Thursday that a new level of faith had been injected into the team, which was now being used to inspire performances.

"One thing in the West Indies team, there is a lot of faith. What the assistant coach (David Williams) and coach (John Dyson) brings into this team is that the team gets closer to God," said Bravo after he helped inspire the West Indies' thrilling one-wicket win over Sri Lanka.

"We pray three times a day and I think that is something which is taking us through at this time and we are seeing signs of improvement. (We have to) get rid of the simple mistakes, believe in ourselves and He (God) will do the rest for us."

Bravo slammed 36 off 37 balls and grabbed a career-best haul of four for 32 to be voted Man-of-the-Match and another balanced all-round play is expected in today's second game of the three-match series.

He shared a key 59-run stand with Chanderpaul (62 not out) as the West Indies successfully chased down Sri Lanka's 235 for seven, reaching 236 for nine off the last ball of the innings when Chanderpaul blasted a six.

"We're happy with the win but there is a lot to improve on. We have to go back to the drawing board, have a good practice session and look to seal the series on Saturday," Bravo said.

"We're happy with the win but we would have been happier if we could have sealed the victory, if we could have won the game with more wickets in hand."

Bravo said that, though the match came down to the wire, Chanderpaul's presence at the crease gave them a thread of hope.

"We knew that Shiv was there and once he got most of the strike, we were in with a chance," the Trinidadian all-rounder said.

"We knew it would have been difficult with two balls to get 10 runs and with a bowler as experienced as Chaminda Vaas you would back the bowling team but Shiv has done it already on different occasions and it goes to show his experience."

Run boy, run! - A fan running with a stump (left) is chased by security after the West Indies beat Sri Lanka by one wicket during the first ODI cricket match at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad on Thursday. West Indies fans will be looking for more reason to celebrate this afternoon as the home team try to clinch the three-match series. - AP