West Indies plan to give it their all on Friday when they face South Africa in a do-or-die contest in their final Group B match. Both teams are on two points – one win and one defeat – and the winners of the match at Swalec Stadium will advance to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. The losers will be eliminated.

Speaking after Thursday’s training session West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo said: “It’s now like a quarter-final...doesn't make it easier; it makes it more exciting. That is something we love as players. It’s one of the reasons we play the game to become competitive and trust in our skills and our team-mates. Whenever we’re in a position that is a must‑win situation we all come together and bring our best game. We saw it last year in Sri Lanka and I’m sure you will see it again.”

West Indies were outplayed by India on Tuesday and lost their second Group B ICC Champions Trophy match by 8 wickets at the Oval. Johnson Charles scored a purposeful 60 at the top of the order and Darren Sammy blasted four sixes in a stunning 56 not out, but 233-9 proved inadequate.

India made 236-2, with a brilliant run-a-ball century from left-hander Shikhar Dhawan, and moved top of the group. The Man-of-the-Match award went to left-arm spinner Rajindra Jadeja, who took a career-best five-wicket haul. The Windies slipped to third position and will have to beat second-placed South Africa on Friday in Wales to qualify for the semi-finals.

West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo was pleased with his team’s victory over Pakistan which got their ICC Champions Trophy campaign off to a rousing start. The Windies were brilliant with the ball and bowled out Pakistan for just 170 in a hard-fought two-wicket victory at the Oval last Friday. Bravo said he was happy with the two points earned from the win as the West Indies moved to the top of Group B.

“In the morning if I said Pakistan are going to be out for 170, I would take that any day. We wanted to bowl first as a team. I know I have two very good fast bowlers and once they put the ball in the right area and pitch up the ball, obviously, they will have wickets,” said Bravo, who was leading the team for the first time in a major international tournament.

West Indies continued preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy with a tense, 17-run victory over Sri Lanka in their second and final practice match today at Edgbaston here. Left-hander Darren Bravo extended his good form with a top score of 71, Johnson Charles scored 58 and Ramnaresh Sarwan made 55, laying the foundation for an imposing 297-9. Faced with a daunting target, Sri Lanka’s stumbled against steady, if not menacing bowling and were bowled out for 280 in 47 overs.

West Indies showed improvement in all departments to record a morale-boosting win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday as both teams got much needed preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2013. The Windies batted freely and fluently to score 297-8 off 50 overs – with excellent knocks from Darren Bravo (71), Johnson Charles (58) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (55) on a good pitch at Edgbaston.

Dwayne Bravo says he is excited and eager to lead the West Indies into the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2013 and will give his all to see the Windies win the prestigious tournament for the second time. The livewire allrounder will be at the helm for the first time in a major international tournament and spoke highly of the team’s chances as he addressed the media on Wednesday.

“The ICC Champions Trophy, we as players know it as the mini-World Cup. We see it as a very important tournament. For us as a team and all the cricketing nations also, we are really looking forward to it. I myself, it’s a new road for me taking over the ODI team, and I’m really excited to be a part of a side that has so many world-class players. I just can’t wait to lead the team, and like I said before, this is a tournament that’s very important to us,” Bravo said.

The West Indies Cricket Board today announced Dwayne Bravo as West Indies One Day International captain. The Selection Panel recommended to the Board of Directors that Bravo be appointed captain as the West Indies One Day International Cricket Team and the Board of Directors approved the recommendation.

The Selection Panel has also indicated that Darren Sammy will be retained as West Indies Test and Twenty20 International captain.

West Indies again outplayed Zimbabwe to win the third and final One-Day International and secure a 3-0 series clean sweep on Tuesday. Darren Bravo made a classy, unbeaten 72 to lead the home side to a comprehensive five-wicket victory at the Grenada National Stadium.

The Windies finished on 215-5 in reply to the visitors’ 211-9, winning with 22 balls to spare. The home side won the opening match by 156 runs on Friday and followed up with a seven-wicket victory in the second match on Sunday.