Shai Hope defies injury to drag West Indies to consolation win over India

CHANDIGARH (Agencies): Skipper Shai Hope overcame a groin injury to produce a memorable century and orchestrate a record chase as West Indies secured a consolation five-wicket victory over India in the final One-day International on Saturday. Having already taken a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series, India rode on a career-best unconquered 129 by KL Rahul and a breezy 92 by opener Rohit Sharma to recover from 4-2 to post a mammoth 351-7 in New Chandigarh. West Indies’ previous highest successful chase was 331-5 against Ireland in May 2019, but Hope scored 162 not out and rewrote the record books with an innings of the highest quality as he almost single-handedly got the job done. Compelled to open after Jewel Andrew sustained a finger injury while fielding, Hope held the chase together despite playing with what appeared to be a leg injury. Having kept wicket earlier in the afternoon, he put on an exhibition, cashing in on the inexperience of the Indian bowling attack with a spectacular array of strokes on both sides of the wicket.

“(Chasing) is always a lot easier in India, especially with the dew. We wanted to finish the series on a strong note and I’m glad we got over the line,” said Hope, who was named player-of-the-match. He said despite the injury “I wanted to fight through till the end”. He added that the record chase “was always going to be a challenge. It’s something I had a chat about with the great man MS Dhoni, who told me that you always have more time than you think.” Amir Jangoo matched his captain stroke for stroke during a second-wicket alliance of 109 but after that, it was Hope all the way. Losing fluency just before reaching three figures as he struggled to run between the wickets, Hope found a second wind with 56 needed off the last five overs. Launching a ferocious onslaught, he smashed 40 off his last 16 deliveries, bringing up victory with 10 balls to spare. In the afternoon, after he chose to bat on winning the toss, Shubman Gill was superbly caught behind by Hope, diving to his left, as Jayden Seales procured extra bounce on a surface that assisted the quicker bowlers at the start. Seales then breached Virat Kohli’s defences with his next legitimate delivery and uprooted the middle stump, leaving India in huge trouble.

Rohit, watchful at the start, began the rescue act alongside a chancy Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was dropped twice on five and once each on nine and 34. The duo put on 137 for the third wicket when Rohit was dismissed eight short of a third hundred in his last four ODI innings. Rohit’s dismissal brought Rahul to the middle and the Indian vice-captain cut loose right from the get-go. With the lower order for support, Rahul did the bulk of the scoring in the last ten overs which yielded 105, but his heroics were trumped by the indefatigable Hope.

Brief scores:

West Indies 352 for 5 (Hope 162 not out, Jangoo 67) beat India 351 for 7 (Rahul 129 not out, Rohit 92, Gaikwad 57, Seales 3-62) by five wickets.