Fans React To Shai Hope’s Powerful Century Against India In 2nd ODI

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Jatin Khandelwal

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The day had started in a grand fashion for Shai Hope when he was gifted a special jersey with the number 100 printed on its back. The shirt was presented to Hope by former West Indian legend Desmond Haynes on the occasion of the opener playing in his 100th ODI match.

It became grander when Hope became only the 10th batsman ever in the history of ODI cricket to notch up a century in their 100th ODI match when he smashed India’s Yuvendra Chahal for a six down the ground. He was so pumped up with that six, with the century, with the celebration – that he launched Chahal for another six on the next ball.

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Hope’s century – his 13th in ODI cricket to go with 20 fifties after making his ODI debut in 2016 – along with Nicholas Pooran’s cracking knock of 74 runs off 77 balls and a couple of thirties from Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks meant the hosts posted a total of 311.

“Playing 100 games for West Indies and to score a hundred in my 100th ODI means a lot to me. My back was stiffening up a little and it was tough out there. It’s a decent score on this pitch. It was about getting in, I have not got a start like this in a while, so wanted to capitalise on that and put some runs. It’s not what it is, it’s a good score and some balls are keeping low, the spinners will come into play,” Shai Hope said in the mid-innings break.

It was a methodical, well-calculated and smartly paced innings from Hope – and that reflects in the tempo at which he batted in during his different partnerships.

When his opening partner, Mayers, struck runs at strike rate of 185, Hope was sedate scoring 24 off 32 balls, followed by a similar approach – 27 off 38 – when with Brooks. He flexed his arms a little when with Pooran, scoring 39 off 49 balls, before smashing 17 off 8 when Rovman Powell was the non-striker.

Hope’s score of 115 runs today is now the joint fourth-highest score by a batsman in his 100th ODI match. Also, Hope is now first-ever player to score a century in his 50th and 100th ODI match!

Twitterati was effusive in praise for Shai Hope:

“Terrific from Shai Hope. Century in his 100th ODI,” wrote legendary commentator Ian Bishop.

 

Also Read: Aakash Chopra Took A Dig At Jay Shah’s ‘Bench Strength’ Statement

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