India and West Indies are currently up against each other in the second fixture of the ODI series at Trinidad. The Nicholas Pooran-led side won the toss and opted to bat first. Then the opener Kyle Mayers was sensational yet again to provide a flying start to the Caribbean team. The southpaw contributed 39 off 23, with six fours and a single six.
Afterwards Shai Hope and Shamarh Brooks were clinical with their ability to steer the team at a brisk rate. The spinners Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal put brakes on the home team by taking the wickets of Brooks (35) and Brandon King (0) in quick successions.
However, Pooran was confident with his ball-striking capabilities, while Hope played a second-fiddle to him. None of the bowlers were spared by the willow of the West Indies skipper, who was looking all set to hit a century. However, Shardul Thakur broke the dangerous partnership by dismissing Pooran for 74. Soon, Yuzvendra Chahal was brought into the attack to put pressure on the new batter, Rovman Powell. But Hope had other ideas on his mind, as he unleashed his attacking mindset against the ace spinner.
Batting on 95, Shai Hope charged ahead and hit a six towards the straight boundary to reach his 13th century in the 100th ODI match. It was certainly an innings, which the 28-year-old was waiting for a long time and had a few low scores which put him under pressure in the last few matches. The celebration of the century was also an emotional one by Hope.
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The experienced campaigner followed it by hitting another six towards the extra-cover boundary to continue the momentum for the hosts. In the penultimate over, Hope was dismissed for 115 off 135 as helped West Indies to go past the total of 300.