Image Credit- AFP
What a waste of a white-ball reboot. Shai Hope’s
outstanding 109 not out helped the West Indies upset England by four wickets in
the opening One-Day International in Antigua, three weeks after their
catastrophic World Cup campaign came to an end.
Romario Shepherd’s 48 from just 28 deliveries allowed
them to reach their goal of 326 with seven balls remaining, even though the
hosts appeared to be running out of time. In the 39th over, West Indies were
213 for 5, seemingly having thrown away an undefeated opening partnership of
104 between Alick Athanaze and Brandon King. With just three runs under his
belt, Shepherd reversed an LBW ruling against him, which galvanised the chase.
When he left to go lbw to Gus Atkinson, the equation
had improved to a more agreeable 24 from 17. In their 89-run partnership (from
just 51 balls), Hope, who had discovered his six-hitting touch as Shepherd’s
backup, concluded the game with three sixes in four balls, all to the leg side.
After reaching his 16th ODI century off of 82 deliveries with the second, he
quickly broke the boundary for the seventh and last time, electrifying the
audience.
In addition to those last blows, Sam Curran endured
cruel treatment throughout the last few overs, finishing with the lowest ODI
scores for an Englishman of 0 for 98 from 9.5 overs.
With their highest-ever score at the Sir Vivian
Richards Stadium, England appeared to be comfortably ahead at the midway point.
However, the hosts have already clinched the record with a decisive victory,
leading by just one run.
Jos Buttler looked hopeless, as he had done often
times in the previous three months, and was removed for three runs at the bat.
His choice to bat first appeared to have been justified when he had called the
toss accurately, especially after Salt and Will Jacks quickly reached 77 for no
loss after 8.2 overs.
After a first over that went for eleven runs, Athanaze
hooked six off Curran, signalling at least his intent. He then finished the
powerplay with another hook, this time off Atkinson, helping the West Indies
reach 55 for no loss after ten overs.
However, spin gave the fielding side back control,
exactly like it had in the first inning. Athanazer was caught lbw by Rehan
Ahmed while brushing the wicket, and Livingstone bowled King after seven
deliveries. When a scuttler from Carse (lbw) ended Keacy Carty’s plodding 16
off 39 at the beginning of the 30th over, the needed run rate had crept up to
8.70.
As Shimron Hetmyer came and went for 32, and Sherfane
Rutherford’s maiden ODI knock lasted three deliveries before he was caught at
deep square leg, Hope was in his typical accumulation mode. Though there was no
assurance that Hope would receive the much-needed assistance from Shepherd, he
made a show of his hatred and puffed up his chest.
A meal of seamers awaited on the back nine with 101 to
get after seeing out Rehan’s penultimate over and Livingstone having already
gone through his 10 overs with 1 for 50. He and Hope chose their targets based
on the ball’s pace. Two slower balls were flung down as Carse was caught for 11
in the 42nd over, then Curran was taken for 19 in the 43rd.
Hope seized the chance to put an early stop to the
encounter, needing just 19 out of 12. Curran, who was obviously having trouble,
delivered a full toss that was lapped up for ninety-three metres over wide
long-on. He then followed up with a similarly delicious length ball that was
sent sailing into the bleachers. After Hope concluded his quiet centenary
celebrations, he blasted a little ball back towards the same stand to really
get the party going.
There’s still more licking of wounds for England. Even
though there were just six players in this starting XI from the miserable World
Cup campaign, the way this loss happened is comparable to some of those in
India. The worst part is that a group of people who were not even good enough
to get there in the first place inflicted this loss.