/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23962442/acastro_STK067__03.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24247717/lp_logo_3.0.jpg){kind=logo}
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24016885/STK093_Google_04.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24808816/Starfield__The_Settled_Systems___Supra_Et_Ultra_____Starfield__The_Settled_Systems___Su)
[ad_1]
Sharjah: West Indies beat United Arab Emirates by seven wickets with 88 balls to spare in their first bilateral ODI series. West Indies opener Brandon King scored his maiden one-day international century for the visitors with a one-ball 112 – including 12 fours and four sixes – and Shamarh Brooks scored 44.
New captain Shai Hope (13 not out) hit the winning six as West Indies’ successful chase never looked in doubt. New white-ball head coach Daren Sammy made a successful debut as West Indies reached 206-3 in 35.2 overs. Deciding to bat first, UAE scored 202 in 47.1 overs, with fast bowler Keemo Paul taking 3-34. 19-year-old Ali Naseer scored 58 off 52 balls on debut for the hosts and Vritya Aravind scored a slow 40 off 77 balls.
Dominic Drakes (2-29), Odion Smith (2-40) and Yannick Kariyah (2-26) were among the wicket-takers for the West Indies. The three ODIs will also prepare the teams for the Cricket World Cup qualifiers to be held in Zimbabwe later this month.
Stump uprooted! Drake’s first ODI wicket
West Indies on _#UAEvWI #sharjah pic.twitter.com/wJiVycQAsl— FanCode (@FanCode) June 4, 2023
Happy to bat anywhere for the team: Shai Hope
West Indies captain Shai Hope suggested that he would continue to perform for the West Indies at No.4 and was ready to bat whenever the team required him. West Indies will take on the United Arab Emirates in a three-match ODI series starting on Sunday in Sharjah as a part of their build-up to the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe starting June 18.
Shai Hope is the highest ODI run-scorer since the completion of the 2019 World Cup, with 1931 runs at an average of 52.18. During this time, however, his strike rate has been only 74.90, the lowest among batsmen from Full Member nations with at least 1,000 runs.
However, with the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe, Hope has taken up a new role as an enforcer at No.4. Hope has batted at No.4 only 11 times in his ODI career, and just twice this year, but in March he scored an unbeaten 128 off 115 balls.
“It is a tickle, but I am happy to bat wherever the team needs (me). Going forward, I think No.4 will give us a bit more stability. Faced time, especially against spin. But you might see a bit of change in this series; The batting line-up might be a bit different from what we are used to. Yes, I think No.4 is that position That’s something I’ll stick with for a while and hope it continues to work for the West Indies.
(With ANI inputs)
