- Remarkable comeback from West Indies
- Superb century from skipper boosts hosts
- West Indies upset odds to win by four wickets
In a stunning turn of events, Shai Hope’s sublime century propelled the West Indies to a remarkable four-wicket victory over England in the first one-day international (ODI) in Antigua. Hope’s unbeaten 109 from just 83 balls guided the hosts to successfully chase down a challenging target of 326 with seven balls to spare.
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Hope and Shepherd inspire amazing West Indies comeback
The West Indies faced a daunting task, requiring an improbable 106 runs from the last 10 overs with five wickets in hand. Captain Hope, well-supported by Romario Shepherd’s aggressive 48 from 28 balls, orchestrated a brilliant comeback. Hope sealed the victory in style, hitting three sixes in the 49th over.
Despite England’s initial dominance, having posted a competitive total with contributions from various batsmen, the match took a dramatic turn. Openers Phil Salt and Will Jacks provided a solid start with a rapid 77-run partnership in just 8.2 overs. However, England failed to capitalise on the positive start, with only Harry Brook managing to surpass a half-century, scoring 71 from 72 balls.
Late contributions from Sam Curran and Brydon Carse, who added 66 runs for the eighth wicket, pushed England’s total beyond the 300-run mark. The pitch, offering uneven bounce and turn, added an unpredictable element to the game.
The West Indies faced adversity when they lost both openers in successive overs after a promising 104-run opening stand. However, Hope showcased impeccable timing in his innings, partnering with Shepherd and Shimron Hetmyer (32) to navigate through the middle overs. Hope then accelerated in the death overs, particularly targeting Curran, who ended with figures of 0-98.
With this victory, the West Indies take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Cricket enthusiasts can anticipate further excitement as the series continues at the same venue on Wednesday at 17:30 GMT.
Betting Implications
England went into both the match and the series as favourites and looked like they would secure a victory for long periods. However, they were undone by a brilliant innings from Hope and their own failings with the ball and in the field. In addition, while the pitch was uneven and you have to credit the West Indies’ attack, you can question whether England should have scored more given that Brooke was the only player to score over 50.
Despite this England remain the favourites going into the second ODI. At the time of writing, Coral have England priced at 4/9 with the West Indies at 7/4. As far as the series is concerned, with the West Indies 1-0 up the odds on an England win have lengthened, however, the tourists remain favourites.
Check out our guide for the second ODI between the West Indies and England.
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