West Indies batter Shai Hope equalled legendary Brian Lara for the second-most centuries in ODIs for his team, while also becoming the second-fastest Caribbean batter to reach the 6,000-run milestone after the great Sir Viv Richards on Wednesday.
Hope continued to prove his class as an ODI batter during the second ODI against New Zealand at Napier. He scored an unbeaten 109 off 69 balls, including 13 fours and four sixes, at a strike rate of over 157.
In 147 ODIs and 142 innings, Hope has now scored 6,097 runs at an average of 50.80, with a strike rate of 79.79. His record includes 19 centuries and 30 fifties, with a highest score of 170. He achieved this milestone as the second-fastest Caribbean batter, behind Viv Richards, who reached 6,000 runs in 141 innings in 1989.
By equalling Lara’s 19 centuries, Hope now has the second-most ODI centuries for a West Indies batter and is seven centuries shy of Chris Gayle’s record of 25.
This year, Hope has been in sensational form, scoring 659 runs in 14 ODIs at an average of 59.45 and a strike rate of 99.09, including two centuries and four fifties. His highest score this year is 120*. Across 38 international matches, he has amassed 1,489 runs in 43 innings at an average of 40.24, with four centuries and eight fifties.
In the match, Hope’s 109* helped West Indies post 247/9 in 34 overs during the rain-curtailed clash, after New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. Nathan Smith (4/42) and Kyle Jamieson (3/44) were the top performers for New Zealand.
During the run chase, half-centuries from openers Devon Conway (90 off 84 balls, with 13 fours and a six) and Rachin Ravindra (56 off 46 balls, with four boundaries and five sixes) set up the chase. Tom Latham (39* off 29 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and skipper Mitchell Santner (34* off 15 balls, with three fours and two sixes) guided New Zealand to victory with five wickets and three balls remaining.
Hope was named Player of the Match, while New Zealand secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, with one game remaining.
IANS
