PAK vs WI: Shai Hope becomes third-fastest batter to score 4000 ODI runs

While the West Indies team would be smarting over their loss against Pakistan in a thrilling 1st ODI in Multan on Wednesday, 8th June, Shai Hope has cause for a little celebration. The West Indian became the 3rd fastest to reach 4000 runs in ODIs and the joint-fastest Caribbean to this feat along with the iconic Viv Richards.

When Hope hit Pakistan’s Hasan Ali for a boundary in the 39th over of the 1st innings, it was cause for a double delight for the man from Barbados as he reached his 12th ODI ton along with 4000 runs in ODIs. The classy right-hander has been in tremendous form in recent times, scoring his 2nd century in four games. The West Indies vice-captain scored a chanceless 127 runs off 134 deliveries opening the innings. His 154-run partnership with Shamarh Brooks laid the foundation for the West Indies as the visitors finished with 305 runs on the board in their 50 overs.

The right-hander batter made his ODI debut for West Indies in 2016 and since then has been one of their shining lights in this format of the game. The wicketkeeper batter has amassed 4026 runs in 88 innings at an impressive average of 52.28.

Shai Hope’s century goes in vain as Pakistan edge West Indies in the 1st ODI

Meanwhile, this series was due to be played in December 2021, but due to a Covid 19 outbreak in the West Indies camp, the series got rescheduled. Babar Azam’s Pakistan team welcomed West Indies to Multan for the series opener. The match saw international cricket return to Multan after 14 long years, and the Pakistani team didn’t disappoint the expectant home crowd either.

Chasing West Indies’ total of 305, the Men in Green were jolted early after the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman (11), but skipper Babar Azam continued his rich vein of form as he scored another composed century to send the home crowd to delirious. After the dismissal of Babar (103) and Mohammad Rizwan (59), Pakistan was reeling before Khushdil Shah played an absolute blinder, scoring an unbeaten 41 of 23 deliveries to see his side home.