BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – With little to show in his last 16 Test innings, West Indies batsman Shai Hope says he will take inspiration from his career-best 90 against Pakistan on the penultimate day of the second Test here yesterday.
The 23-year-old made his debut two years but had managed only a previous of best of 41 – in the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi last October — but turned the page with a superb knock.
“It has given me a lot of confidence despite I didn’t get the hundred but it was a tough pitch to bat on – especially to start on – as the spinners were getting some turn out of the rough especially,” Hope told reporters afterwards.
“I can take a lot from the innings. It’s just unfortunate I couldn’t carry on.”
Hope arrived at the crease in the third over of the morning when Shimron Hetmyer was bowled by seamer Mohammad Abbas without adding to his overnight 22.
He then produced a high quality knock, facing 209 deliveries in just over 5-1/4 hours and striking eight fours and a six.
Along the way he anchored three successive half-century stands – putting on 56 for the third wicket with Kraigg Brathwaite (43), 58 for the fourth wicket with Roston Chase (23) and a further 80 for the fifth wicket with Vishaul Singh (32).
Hope said after the early demise of Hetmyer it had been important to stay at the crease and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
“I trusted the process. I wouldn’t say I changed much with my game. It was just about backing my ability and doing what I need to do in the middle and runs [would] come,” the Barbadian said.
“I needed to stay positive. Anything that they gave me to score [off] … I just tried to put away those bad balls. As I said, it was a difficult to pitch to bat on so anything loose you get, you needed to put away.”
Hope’s innings helped West Indies bat the entire day at Kensington Oval to reach 264 for nine and build a lead of 183 runs heading into today’s final day.
And the right-hander believes Pakistan could find difficulty achieving whatever victory total was set.
“I believe we always have a chance to win the game and it (pitch) is not getting any better and as a batter you just need to stick in because the longer you’re there, the easier it gets,” he stressed.
“But having said that, the pitch is getting worse and we just need to bowl in the right areas when we come back tomorrow and then see if we get some quick wickets.”