Shai Hope scores 117 runs, becomes joint third-highest ODI century maker for West Indies

With his blistering knock of 117 runs against England, West Indies star batter Shai Hope became the joint third-highest century-maker for his country in the ODI format. His 17^th ODI century has put the player among the top centurions of the West Indies, leading from the front.

Shai Hope is currently in 4^th position on the list of most centuries by West Indies players, following Chris Gayle, Brian Lara and Desmond Haynes. Chris Gayle has hit 25 ODI centuries in total of 298 matches, while Brian Lara has scored 19 centuries in 295 matches.

Both, Desmond Haynes and Shai Hope have scored 17 centuries each, while Haynes playing 238 and Hope playing 129 matches respectively.  Shai Hope has also surpassed elite cricketers as he has now 9 ODI hundreds since the start on the ongoing decade, leaving behind Indian Cricketer, Virat Kohli with 7 centuries and Pakistan Cricketer, Babar Azam with 8 tons in his name.

Notably, Hope achieved this significant milestone in the second ODI match on 2^nd November, 2024 against England in Antigua and Barbuda. He came for bat at the fourth position, played an excellent knock and formed a crucial partnership with Keacy Carty which propelled the West Indies to a total of 328 against English team.

Though the West Indies team was not able to win the game, Shai Hope’s captain inning, i.e., 17th ODI century, became the highlight of the game. Hope scored 117 runs in 127 balls, hitting 4 sixes and 8 fours, and unfortunately got caught out by Laim Livingstone in Jofra Archer’s delivery.

Hope’s century, Carty’s 71 runs and Rutherford’s 3^rd ODI half century led to the strong total of 328 runs for West Indies. When England batters came to bat, few of them struggled initially, but Livingstone played the captain knock and scored an unbeaten 124 runs in order to seal the game.

Liam Livingstone’s Debut ton helped England successfully chase down the total. And, this became the second highest successful run chase in the Caribbean region. With this exceptional victory by England, they have leveled the series with scores 1-1 and both teams will be aiming for an exciting decider for the third ODI game.

The final showdown is set to take place on 6 November at the Kensington Oval Barbados, where both teams will be eying to conclude the series on a winning side.