Hope stars with unbeaten 146 as Windies level ODI series

DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – Elegant Shai Hope struck a superb career-best hundred to headline a successful West Indies run chase, as the Caribbean side edged Bangladesh by four wickets in the second One-Day International, to level the three-match series here Tuesday.

Under pressure throughout the innings and losing partners, the 25-year-old showcased not only his class but maturity as he unfurled a high-quality unbeaten 146 off 144 balls, as the Windies overhauled a moderate target of 256 with two balls to spare at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

All told, he stroked 12 fours and three sixes, notching his second century in six one-day innings and the joint second-highest individual score for West Indies in a successful ODI chase.

Hope enjoyed little by way of support as veteran right-hander Marlon Samuels chipped in with 27 and left-hander Darren Bravo got 26, but no other batsman passed 20.

However, Hope found a cool head in 20-year-old Keemo Paul, with whom he fashioned a pivotal unbroken, 71-run, seventh wicket stand which hauled the Windies over the line.

Paul spent 31 balls at the crease for his 18, and it was he who struck the winning runs when he pulled off-spinner Mahmudullah to deep midwicket for a couple of.

Bangladesh had earlier stuttered to 255 for seven off their 50 overs with top-ranked all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan top-scoring with 65 and Mushfiqur Rahim (62) and Tamim Iqbal (50) also punching half-centuries.

Fast bowler Oshane Thomas, playing only his fourth ODI, finished with three for 54.

West Indies, who lost Sunday’s opener by five wickets, will now travel to Sylhet for the series finale at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday