DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, CMC –Opener Kyle Hope says he is disappointed that he was not able to register his first List A century but is delighted his contribution helped to lay the foundation for West Indies A’s opening victory against Sri Lanka A yesterday.
Hope struck eight boundaries in the top score of 81 from 112 balls as West Indies A pulled off a commanding 165 run win over Sri Lanka A at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
“There is some disappointment but at the end of the day it is still a personal best,” said Hope.
“So from that stand point I did better than I ever done before. At the end of the day we won so my contribution was worthwhile”. Pope featured in three important partnerships around which the innings was constructed as the West Indies posted 267 for six. He put on an opening stand of 40 with Chadwick Walton, 42 for the third wicket with Andre Fletcher who contributed 26 and 63 with captain Jason Mohammed for the fourth wicket.
“I mixed some patience but I must say all the guys played well and it was unfortunate I didn’t carry on but I must say well played to the rest of the guys,”said Hope.
“They gave me great support and when I was out they took over and did a great job to put us in a commanding position on what I would call a challenging wicket”.
Mohammed, Hope’s Trinidad & Tobago Red Force teammate, supported with 58 from 71 balls and Rovman Powell added a whirlwind 55 from 35 balls that included three fours and three sixes.
Offspinner Jon-Russ Jaggesar, with a career best four for 29, including two wickets in two balls, led the demolition of Sri Lanka A for 102 in 32.3 overs.
Jagessar, Hope’s Red Force teammate in the Regional Super50 Tournament, and Ronsford Beaton, his T&T Knight Riders teammate in the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 Tournament, along with left-arm fast-medium bowler Delorn Johnson shared nine wickets between them.
“I think the bowlers need full credit. I thought they did a really good job. The energy was great to start and we made the most of our chances ,” said Hope.
“We pushed Sri Lanka on the back foot really early and after the fast bowlers did that when Jon-Russ came on he continued and that was the reason we won with such a big margin”.
