Chasing down the 322 runs target in the second ODI against the hosts India at Visakhapatnam, Windies needed to score five runs in the final ball of the game and the centurion Shai Hope was able to hit a four to tie the game.
At the end of the match, Hope remained not out on 123 runs off 134 balls (10 fours and 3 sixes). His brilliant knock helped Windies to deny another ODI defeat in this series. Talking about the final ball of the game, Hope was expecting a wide yorker from the Indian pacer Umesh Yadav, on which the Windies batsman feels that he didn’t get enough bat.
Hope said in the post-match press conference, “Last ball I knew a wide yorker was coming at the end, and I had to get bat on the ball. I didn’t get enough bat but it was enough.”
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It was Hope’s second ODI century while his maiden one (101) was on November 19, 2016, against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. While Hope has admitted that the latest ODI century will give him enough confidence, he has demanded to be more consistent as a team.
The 24-year-old said, “Definitely, such knocks improve your confidence. You have to gain after every innings. It was a matter of time before I got a big score. We just need to be more consistent as a team.”
Also read: Windies tour of India 2018-19: Second ODI – Stats Review
Apart from Hope, Shimron Hetmyer also batted very well in that lengthy chase. After hitting a fast century (106 off 78 balls) in the first ODI of the series at Guwahati, now the 21-year-old left-handed batsman played another firing knock of 94 runs off just 64 balls (4 fours and 7 sixes). Hope and Hetmyer shaped the innings with the 143-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Talking about his batting experience with Hetmyer, Hope said, “It’s pretty different with him, he likes to keep the scoreboard ticking. As long as we take it to the last five overs, we knew we stood a chance.”
When Hetmyer was dismissed, Windies still needed to score 101 runs in 18 overs. Hope never lost his patience and carried his team till the end of the game.
Talking about their approach after Hetmyer’s dismissal, Hope said, “There was a change in approach after that (Hetmyer’s dismissal). We needed to take the innings deep.”
