In the third match of the three-match ODI series, held on October 3rd in Mullampur (New Chandigarh) against India, the Western Indies team made a splash by achieving an impressive target of 352 runs.
The central figure in this historic run chase was Western Indies captain Shay Hope, who played an outstanding innings, remained unbeaten, and scored 162 runs under immense pressure. Hope, named 'Player of the Match', shared the secret to his innings, revealing that advice from former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped him develop the correct strategy in a difficult situation.
During the match, India, having won the toss, started the game by scoring 351/7 runs in 50 overs. In response, the Western Indies surpassed this target, scoring 352/5 runs in 48.2 overs, securing a victory by five wickets. Thus, the visitors concluded the three-match series honorably. Notably, the Indian team had already secured the series after winning the first two games.
Shay Hope stated that before the run chase began, a phrase spoken by MS Dhoni echoed in his mind. He mentioned a pleasant conversation with the great player MS Dhoni, who advised him: 'You always have more time than you think.'
This thought formed the basis of Shay Hope's playing strategy. He avoided risk at the start of the innings, stabilizing the game's flow, and progressed by breaking down the target into smaller parts. His goal was to prepare for the final over-attacks. Hope noted: 'I didn't want to focus too much on the result. I needed to concentrate on the process. I tried to divide the game into parts and find a way to score runs in the later stages.'
Shay Hope first reached fifty off 46 balls. After that, he completed his 21st ODI century off 104 balls. However, after reaching a century, his style of play completely changed. In the next 39 balls, Hope scored 62 runs. He maintained the pace of the Western Indies throughout until the end and put pressure on the Indian bowlers.
After Kim Pollard got out in the 41st over, a new problem could have arisen for the Western Indies, but Shay Hope, along with Gudakesh Motie, changed the course of the match. They scored 62 runs without losing a wicket in just 29 balls, allowing the team to reach the target.
Shay Hope also monitored the slow pace of the Indian team's overs. He understood that if India did not complete the overs on time, an extra fielder would have to be placed within the 30-yard circle in the last four overs. He stated: 'I also considered that the Indian team was behind in terms of overs. I knew that in the final stage they would have to bring some fielders inside the circle.'
In Hope's opinion, he took all these circumstances into account while pursuing the target and tried to leverage their advantage in the closing overs.
The significance of Shay Hope's innings is amplified by the fact that he was not limited to the role of a batsman in this match. He also acted as a wicketkeeper throughout the entire Indian innings. He had to start the game behind the stumps after Joel Andrew's injury. That is, after 50 overs behind the stumps, he had to come out to bat. Furthermore, the Western Indies batting lineup was not entirely reliable, placing additional responsibility on Hope. Despite this, he did not lose patience.
Shay Hope revealed that after about 30 overs of the game, he started feeling discomfort in his groin area. Nevertheless, he continued playing and remained on the field until the end. His unbeaten innings of 162 runs demonstrated a magnificent combination of patience and aggression. Initially, he preserved the wicket, and as he approached the target, he started hitting powerful shots.
This run chase was the most successful in the history of the Western Indies in ODIs. It was Shay Hope's second consecutive century in this series. He also scored a hundred in the second ODI of the series, but this time his performance will be remembered not only for bringing the team a historic victory but also for interrupting India's continuous winning streak.
