ENG vs WI: Everyone just kept watching the way Shai Hope batted in the first One Day International match of the England vs West Indies three-match series. The England cricket team is on a tour of West Indies these days, the first match of the series was played at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in Antigua, where England scored 325 runs in 50 overs. Harry Brook was the highest scorer for England scoring 71 runs, but in reply, the way Shai Hope batted, destroyed England’s bowling attack. Hope played an inning of 109 not out in 83 balls and was chosen man of the match.
During this match, Hope crossed the mark of 5000 ODI runs, and in the list of fastest batsmen to score 5000 ODI runs, he equaled legends like Viv Richards and Virat Kohli. Hope achieved this feat in his 114th ODI innings. The world record for scoring the fastest 5000 ODI runs is held in the name of Babar Azam, who did so in 97 innings. West Indies captain Shai Hope mentioned Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the match. He told how Dhoni’s teachings have been useful to him.
He said, ‘The team won with this century and that’s why I play. Glad we won, I had a conversation with a very famous person M S Dhoni some time ago, He then told me that at the crease you always have more time than you think you have. This thing had stuck in my mind. We have started the series with a win, we will try to repeat it in the next match also. Apart from Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd also played an explosive innings and together they brought West Indies out of difficult times and led them to victory.
Romario scored 49 runs in 28 balls. West Indies scored 326 runs for six wickets in 48.5 overs. The second match of the series is to be played on the same ground on 6 December. While the third match will be held on 9th December. After this, England also has to play a five-match T20 International series on this tour. West Indies could not qualify for the 2023 World Cup. This was the first time that West Indies had not been able to qualify for an ODI World Cup.
