Powell all praise for Shai Hope
Photo - BCB
|| CF Correspondent ||
Shai Hope provided the impetus in struggling West Indies batting line up throughout the ODI series and scored 297 runs with two straight centuries but still it was not enough to win the series.
Bangladesh bowlers only could dismiss him once that too for 43 runs in the first game. He scored his career best 146 not out to single-handedly drive the side to a five-wicket victory in the second ODI and also cut above the rest of the batsmen, scoring more than 50 percent runs of the team total as he smashed 108 not out. Thereby his average stood a stupendous 297.
West Indies captain Rovman Powell congratulated him for this stellar effort and rued that no batsmen could give him a quality support in helping the side get over the line.
“Definitely, Shai Hope batted beautifully throughout the entire series,” Powell said after their eight-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in third and final ODI.
“We have to say congratulations to him. But through the entire series the batting unit didn’t stand; it has been a problem for us over the last few series and, to be honest, [not sure about the next part] we aren’t improving.”
“Positive is only the performance of Shai Hope,” said Powell.
“We can take a lot of courage from Shai Hope. In both games he stands up and batted fifty overs. He showed that the wickets here in Bangladesh can do well on. It’s just words to apply ourselves.”
However to make the matter worse, Kemar Roach and Shai Hope were left out from the ground during Bangladesh’s chase.
Powell said Hope would play the T20 series as his injury is nothing serious while there was no tension for Roach since he is not the part of T20 squad.
“Kemar Roach is not in the T20 squad, so he gets time to heal. His foot is a little bit sore. Shai Hope is a little bit dizzy from the ball that he got struck in the head. Hopefully overnight into tomorrow, he can recover. He will be a vital part of the T20s.”
Powell however believed West Indies could keep their pride intact in the three-match T20 series, which starts on December 17 (Monday).
“West Indies are T20 champions. We have a very good T20 team. We just have to get familiar with conditions. We know that there is a lot of dew and it is a good wicket and come out and play the brand of cricket that West Indies want to play,” he said.
