Bravo Lara, says Darren

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo says some late-night inspiration from his cousin, Windies legend Brian Lara, inspired him during his match-winning performance against South Africa in Barbados.

Bravo produced what he says was the best innings of his one-day international career on Saturday morning (AEST), a run-a-ball 102 that powered the Windies into the ODI tri-series final against Australia on Monday morning (AEST).

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The left-hander shared a 156-partnership with allrounder Kieron Pollard, who scored a vital 62, to rescue to home side from a perilous 4-21 and help them post 285 before bowling the Proteas out for just 185.

And Bravo has revealed a night spent watching highlights of Lara, the former Windies skipper and his first cousin, was the secret to his brilliant knock.

"I haven't spoken to him for some time now, but last night before I went to bed I looked at some of his clips on YouTube," said Bravo, whose languid and flamboyant style of batting has often been compared to that the great Trinidadian, who plundered more than 22,000 runs in his stellar 17-year international career.

"That's my boy, that's my role model, so when I'm struggling I always go back to him.

"If I'm not speaking to him, I'll always go back and look at him on YouTube and get that sort of inspiration to keep believing in myself.

"Today was a very good day for me and hopefully I can continue on Sunday."

Bravo also credited Pollard for playing a crucial role in the match-turning partnership, which lifted the home side after Proteas paceman Kagiso Rabada had claimed three wickets in his opening four-over spell.

Pollard's inclusion for this series comes after a 18-month absence from the one-day international arena and is the first time he's played for the Windies since November last year.

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Having missed almost six months of cricket due to a serious knee injury over the 2015-16 season, Pollard's return to the fold - albeit controversially - has been welcomed by the young side.

And Bravo says the intelligence gained by the 29-year-old from playing domestic T20 cricket around the world, including in Australia and South Africa, has been vital in this series.

"We were under a lot of pressure ... but I think the experience of Kieron Pollard really played a big part in this game," Bravo said.

"He talked to me every single ball and we were communicating very nicely out there so it was good to put us in that position from where we were.

"He's definitely one of our leaders. He has that sort of presence in the dressing room.

"He's played (against) a lot with these guys at the IPL and at T20 level and he's always willing to share information. He knows them inside out.

"He definitely is a game-winner, a game changer for us ... and it's nice to have him back."

Pollard, captain Jason Holder and paceman Shannon Gabriel are expected to play in the final against Australia despite all carrying niggling injuries.

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Holder came into the match under a cloud due to a hamstring strain, but bowled 10 overs straight from the Joel Garner End of Kensington Oval as Gabriel - playing just his second ODI - helped rip through the Proteas top order.

Gabriel later left the field with a slight groin problem while Pollard has been carrying a hand injury throughout the tournament, but all three are set to play.