West Indies captain Shai Hope delivered a spectacular performance against Pakistan, with his explosive century achieving multiple feats. Hope’s outstanding performance not only led to victory for his team but also enabled him to surpass AB de Villiers in the list of most ODI centuries by a wicketkeeper-batsman. Moreover, the records of cricket legends Chris Gayle and MS Dhoni are now under threat.
Hope’s impressive knock against Pakistan involved an unbeaten 120 runs off 94 balls. His innings, marked by a strike rate of 127.65, featured 5 sixes and 10 fours. This was Hope’s 18th ODI century and his second against Pakistan. With his century, the West Indies team scored 294 runs in 50 overs, making it very difficult for Pakistan to chase.
Hope’s Player of the Match performance has now elevated him. This century allowed him to surpass AB de Villiers, as he now has 5 ODI centuries as a wicketkeeper. Dhoni has 6 centuries in ODIs, the world record. This means that Hope has a realistic chance to go past Dhoni and become the wicketkeeper with the most centuries in ODIs.
Hope has become the third West Indian batsman to have the most centuries. He has 18 centuries in 137 innings. He has moved ahead of Desmond Haynes, who scored 17 centuries in 237 innings.
Hope is also now within striking distance of Brian Lara and Chris Gayle’s records. Gayle has the record for most ODI centuries for the West Indies, with 25 centuries in 291 innings. Lara has 19 centuries in 285 innings. Hope, with fewer innings played, has a great chance to surpass Gayle and Lara.