Hope’s hope on Paul pays dividends
Shai Hope
|| CF Correspondent ||
Given West Indies’ lower order’s track record, it was very much Bangladesh’s match they left the visitors at precarious 185 for six but Shai Hope said he kept faith on Keemo Paul’s batting ability to take the side home.
Paul didn’t disappoint Hope as he somehow hung around with him to share an undefeated 71 off 64 for the seventh wicket, which eventually helped the side get over the line with two balls to spare.
Hope who smashed an epic 144 ball-146 not out to script his side’s first victory in the tour in the form of four-wicket after three heavy defeats in Tests and first one-dayer said he concentrated on to bat as deep as it is possible.
“It was just to bat as deep as possible. We know Keemo has very good batting ability. I had full confidence in him,” he said after predictably being adjudged man of the match in the second ODI on Tuesday.
“We just tried to rotate as best as possible. We knew the wicket was bit difficult to come in and strike from ball one so he played a very crucial hand here to go over the line.”
His third century and career-best knock was his first to come in a winning-cause after his first two centuries came in a tied-game against Zimbabwe and recently against India. Unsurprisingly he rated this century as the best.
“It must be above the other two, because we tied the last two games. I am just pleased to get over the line. It is great to score a hundred but there’s more joy if you can get over the line as a team,” he said.
He believed the key to victory was the self-belief.
“It was a bit slow. When the bowlers took some pace off, it was a lot more difficult to get bat on ball especially against Fizz. His offcutters were quite difficult to get away in the crucial stage. The wicket wasn’t the best for strokeplay but it was much better than the last game,” he added.
“Just keep believing regardless of what’s happening. We are here play cricket, compete and win. It is only a matter of time before we get over the line.”
