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In a nail-biting encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, West Indies emerged victorious in the first ODI against England, securing their second-highest successful chase in ODIs. Captain Shai Hope played a pivotal role in the historic win, leading from the front with a remarkable century.
Shai Hope’s unbeaten century steers West Indies to victory
Hope showcased his class and composure as he smashed an unbeaten 109 off just 83 balls, steering the West Indies to a dramatic win while chasing a challenging target of 326. His innings was laced with 7 sixes and 4 fours, displaying a perfect blend of aggression and finesse.
During a crucial 89-run partnership for the 6th wicket with Romario Shepherd (48 off 29 balls), Hope demonstrated exceptional leadership and determination. With West Indies needing 19 runs in the last 2 overs, Hope took charge and dismantled Sam Curran by hitting three consecutive sixes in the penultimate over, guiding his team to victory.
Also READ: Twitter reactions – Shai Hope’s brilliant century helps West Indies script historic chase against England in 1st ODI
Hope acknowledges MS Dhoni’s wisdom
Post the match-winning innings, Hope revealed the influence of a valuable piece of advice he received from former Indian captain MS Dhoni.
Dhoni mentioned the importance of spending time at the crease, particularly in the 50-over format.
“I had a chat with MS Dhoni some time back, and he told me that you always have a lot more time at the crease than you think, and that stuck with me,” shared Hope in the post-match interview.
Winning in a good cause
Expressing his joy after the historic win, Hope stated that the century came in the winning cause and that’s what matters to him the most.
“It [the century] was in a winning cause, and that’s all I play for. Happy that we won. If you want to be the best team in the world, you also have to start playing like the best team in the world,” added Hope.
