PORT OF SPAIN – West Indies were badly let down by their bowlers after Barbados Pride wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope marked his 100th One-day International with his 13th ODI hundred as India claimed a two-wicket win in the second encounter yesterday in Trinidad.
Hope became only the fourth West Indies batsman and tenth overall to score a hundred in his 100th ODI, gathering 115 from 135 balls to be the rock upon which West Indies built their total of 311-6 after they decided to bat on a hard, true Queen’s Park Oval pitch.
After bowling with discipline to start their defence and having India wobbling on 79-3 in the 18th over, the West Indies bowlers lost the plot in the second half of the visitors’ chase.
Consequently, timely half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, and Axar Patel carried the visitors over the finish line with only two balls remaining.
Left-hander Patel, batting at seven, formalised the result when he lofted seamer Kyle Mayers straight for his fifth six to finish with an unbeaten top score of 64 from 35 balls that also included three fours. (AR)
Subscribe now to our eNATION edition for the full story.
For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.