WI vs ENG ODI Match Shai Hope was named “Man of the Match” after his 83-ball innings. Which featured seven sixes and four fours.
In the high-scoring opening encounter of the three-match One-Day International series. The West Indies defeated the West Indies by a record-breaking four wickets on Sunday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua thanks to Shai Hope’s 16th century and the attacking prowess of all-rounder Romario Shepherd.
The home captain having been set a difficult target of 326 by the visitors. Steadied the effort during a period of instability before unleashing a barrage of powerful shots. He finished the match with three sixes off Sam Curran, sealing the victory with an undefeated 109.
This performance was the biggest successful run-chase by any team at the site in an ODI. Surpassing the previous mark of 276 set by the West Indies against Sri Lanka in 2021. Which featured seven sixes and four fours.
The West Indies looked to have lost the match at 213 for five in the 39th over. Shepherd’s 48 off 28 balls in an 89-run sixth-wicket partnership turned the tide. Alick Athanaze had scored 66 at the top of the order. He and Brandon King had shared an opening stand of 104.
WI vs ENG ODI
Hope’s first appraisal of his performance was, “Stats and record will come along by the way but my aim is to win matches. I’m happy to have played a part in that today,” instead than lavishing Shepherd with praise. “He was incredible. He is dependable at all times and keeps proving his value at this caliber.”
Harry Brook had earlier kept the England innings together through the middle overs. They were driven to a contested 325 all out by explosive attacks at the top and end of the 50 overs.
Jos Buttler chose to take the first strike, and openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks scorched 77 at nearly 10 runs per over.
After that, Hope’s bowlers used the two-paced surface to drastically slow down scoring before Brydon Carse and Sam Curran reestablished the fast-paced early tempo with a 66-run eighth-wicket partnership. Helping the innings finish with 86 runs off the last nine overs.
With seven fours and two sixes in his 71 from 72 balls. Brook was rewarded for the West Indies bowlers’ varied delivery velocity. Gudakesh Motie, a spinner and Oshane Thomas and Shepherd, pacers, each took two wickets.
Thoughts on the game: “I thought it was a fantastic effort by us with the bat,” Buttler stated. “West Indies needed a spectacular innings to chase it down, and Hope and Shepherd provided it.”
England finds itself in a must-win scenario heading into the second game at the same site on Wednesday, following a catastrophic World Cup defense in India.
