Hope’s Century Propels West Indies to Commanding Total

TAROUBA: Shai Hope, the captain, played a remarkable innings, scoring an undefeated century that steered the West Indies to a substantial score in their final ODI against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday.

After being asked to bat first in the crucial series-deciding match, the West Indies managed to post a total of 294/6 in their 50 overs.

However, the West Indies faced some early turbulence, losing Brandon King in the third over with only 10 runs on the scoreboard.

Following this initial setback, Evin Lewis partnered with Keacy Carty, and together they steadied the innings with a cautious 47-run partnership for the second wicket before Abrar Ahmed dismissed them in quick succession.

Lewis contributed 37 runs from 54 balls, including one boundary and three sixes, while Carty added 17 runs.

Hope, arriving at number four, took charge of the West Indies’ batting effort and quickly formed a dominant 45-run partnership with Sherfane Rutherford (15) for the fourth wicket.

He then engaged in a vital 64-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Roston Chase, who made a valuable contribution with 36 runs off 29 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.

Chase’s dismissal was followed by another setback for the hosts when Gudakesh Motie (five) was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz, leaving the West Indies at 184/6 in 41.2 overs.

These successive dismissals appeared to give Pakistan the upper hand, but an impressive 110-run partnership between Hope and Justin Greaves shifted the momentum back in favour of the West Indies.

Hope led the charge in this unbeaten stand, scoring 50 runs off 26 deliveries, while Greaves contributed 43 runs from 24 balls.

Shai Hope was the highest scorer for the West Indies, remaining unbeaten with 120 runs off just 94 balls, including 10 fours and five sixes.

For Pakistan, Abrar and Naseem were the leading wicket-takers with two wickets each, while Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one wicket apiece.