Hope looks to help Windies to historic series win
Published:Wednesday | December 18, 2019 | 12:41 AM
VISAKHAPATNAM, India (CMC):
Strokemaker Shai Hope yesterday underscored the importance of players sticking to their roles as West Indies prepared to face India in the second One-Day International here today knowing that victory would hand them their first series win against the subcontinental powerhouses in 13 years.
The right-handed Hope was one of the heroes of last Sunday’s convincing eight-wicket win in Chennai when he carved out an unbeaten 102 to help West Indies to an important 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
With West Indies chasing 288, Hope anchored the innings with a patient knock that came at a slow strike rate of 67, but which perfectly complemented Shimron Hetmyer’s whirlwind 139, which was marked by a strike rate of 131.
Tactical approach
Hope, who already averages an amazing 52 from 70 ODIs, said that while his innings had not been a flamboyant one, it was what the team required and part of the overall tactical approach to the run chase.
“I think I’m pacing my innings to the team’s requirement,” Hope told a media conference here.
“Since we only had to get [288], and the rate that we were going at [was a good one], we have to make sure everyone’s on the same page, and my role there was to stay at one end and make sure we knuckle down on the bowlers, don’t give them any wickets, and it’s just about playing what the team requires.
The left-handed Hetmyer was devastating in approach, crunching 11 fours and seven sixes as he raced to a run-a-ball 50 before reaching his fifth ODI hundred off just 85 deliveries.
In contrast, opener Hope batted nearly the entire 50 overs, bringing up his 50 off 92 deliveries before posting his eighth ODI hundred in the 47th over off 149 balls.
While Hope’s career strike rate lies at nearly 74, he has been the leading scorer for West Indies in recent times. His unbeaten 109 in the final ODI against Afghanistan last month in Lucknow gave the Caribbean side a 3-0 cleansweep, and he has now scored four hundreds this year at an average of 61.