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Shai Hope's brilliant century powers West Indies to victory over England in thrilling 1st ODI

Shepherd's crucial role cannot be overstated, as his explosive 48 off 28 balls in a vital sixth-wicket partnership of 89 revived West Indies when they seemed to be losing control at 213 for five in the 39th over.

By Omar | Dec 4, 2023 | 2 Min Read

In the first One-Day International (ODI) between West Indies and England at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, Shai Hope’s impressive innings, characterized by seven sixes and four fours, guided the home team to a historic four-wicket victory. Facing a challenging target of 326 set by England, Hope, along with all-rounder Romario Shepherd, orchestrated a remarkable comeback. Hope’s unbeaten 109, his 16th ODI hundred, included a stunning display of powerful strokes, culminating in three consecutive sixes off Sam Curran in the penultimate over. This feat surpassed the previous record, establishing West Indies’ successful run-chase of 326 as the highest at this venue.

Shepherd’s crucial role cannot be overstated, as his explosive 48 off 28 balls in a vital sixth-wicket partnership of 89 revived West Indies when they seemed to be losing control at 213 for five in the 39th over. Despite Alick Athanaze’s contribution of 66 and a solid opening stand of 104 with Brandon King, Shepherd’s performance played a pivotal role in securing the win.

Reflecting on the match, Hope acknowledged the importance of winning matches over individual records and praised Shepherd’s contribution, emphasizing his reliability at the international level. Meanwhile, England’s innings, guided by Harry Brook’s resilient 71, saw aggressive starts from openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks. The West Indies bowlers, adapting to the varied pitch conditions, restricted the scoring rate. Although Sam Curran and Brydon Carse accelerated the tempo in the final overs, the West Indies bowlers, including Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, and Oshane Thomas, shared wickets.

Jos Buttler, England’s captain, commended West Indies for a fantastic batting effort, acknowledging the special innings from Hope and crucial support from Shepherd. With England now facing a must-win situation in the second match at the same venue on Wednesday, the series promises continued excitement and competition.