Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope hit centuries and combined in a stand of 218 runs to guide West Indies to an eight-wicket victory over India in the series opener of the three-match ODI series at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
Hetmyer took just 106 balls for his highest ODI score of 139 and his second-wicket partnership with Hope, who remained unbeaten on 102, helped Windies chase down a target of 288 with 13 balls to spare.
Earlier, half-centuries from Rishabh Pant (71) and Shreyas Iyer (70) helped India to recover from a shaky start and post 287-8 in their stipulated 50 overs.
Well, the 288-run target achieved by West Indies in the first ODI is also a record by any team against India in Chennai.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Contrasting 💯s @SHetmyer @shaidhope but none more important than the other 👍
Congrats team windies 👏 #MenInMaroon #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/vvLnLAG6tC— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) December 15, 2019
An ODI game in Chennai and not a single wicket to spinners. Who would’ve thought? Top stuff from Hetmeyer and Hope. Radically Different ways of succeeding on the same surface. A knockout series for India now. #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 15, 2019
What a stunning innings it was from Shimron Hetmyer, one of the best played by an overseas batsman in India in recent times and Shai Hope complimented him so beautifully and this is a really well deserved win for WI. #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/zeP5TdKqrk
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 15, 2019
Never seen such a dominant win from a touring team in India, nor heard an Indian crowd so quiet at the end of the game. Everyone is stunned😯 #INDvWI
— Daniel Beswick (@DGBeswick1) December 15, 2019
Well played young man! Any hundred against India in India in any format means you are a quality player. #INDvWI #INDvsWESTIND pic.twitter.com/G0KlYbhby5
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) December 15, 2019
Very controlled 5th Odi century from Shimron Hetmyer. He has paced this innings with such calm body language and assured shot selection; it has the feel of a player who has gone up another step in his maturity👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) December 15, 2019
More power to you lads 👊🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/QpjOQRo9PZ
— Sir Vivian Richards (@ivivianrichards) December 15, 2019
🇮🇳v🌴#INDvWI That winning moment!❤ WI win by 8 wickets!🙌🏾 Great job boys!!👊🏾 #MenInMaroon #ItsOurGame pic.twitter.com/yfm3VevghM
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 15, 2019
Congratulations to West Indies on winning the first ODI 👏🏻 #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/hG8J4GQPsa
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 15, 2019
Congratulations @windiescricket for winning the game at our @CskIPLTeam den.. team india will bounce back in the next game @BCCI #Greatcricket 👍✅ and crowd always to good in chennai 🤗
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 15, 2019
Very impressed by Shimron Hetmyer, showed great maturity and turned the game firmly in WI's favour. Great support from Shai Hope as well and this is a very deserving win for the West Indies. Promises to be a very exciting series #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/9hjx3jHdTo
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 15, 2019
The highest successful run-chase in Chennai as the hard-hitters of #WI take a 1-0 lead!
Shimron Hetmyer or Shai Hope – whose century made you go 🤩?
#INDvWI #FriendsTurnFoes #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/wjzYFnozIC— Hotstar Canada (@hotstarcanada) December 15, 2019
Hope and Hetmyer joined forces to help West Indies beat #TeamIndia in Chennai and take a 1⃣-0⃣ lead in the series. 👏
But tension lene di lod nai, expect 🇮🇳 to come back stronger! 💪#SaddaPunjab #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/A4P0dK7JeI
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 15, 2019
Shai Hope in ODI cricket in Asia:
Innings – 12
Runs – 878
Best – 146*
Average – 146.33
SR – 76.68
100s / 50s – 5 / 2Among the players with 500+ ODI runs in Asia, the average of 66.50 by Anshuman Rath is the best after Shai Hope's 146.33!! #INDvWI
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 15, 2019
Centuries from Hetmyer and Hope guide West Indies to a convincing win in the series opener.#INDvWI #OrangeArmy #RiseWithUs
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 15, 2019