Sometimes in cricket, a single performance is so brilliant it almost transcends the result of the match. That's exactly what happened on November 19th in Napier, when West Indies captain Shai Hope played an innings for the ages. In a rain-affected slugfest, he single-handedly dragged his team to a competitive score with a stunning century, breaking records along the way. But as is often the cruel reality of sport, it just wasn't enough.
Key Highlights
- ✓ West Indies captain Shai Hope scored a magnificent unbeaten 109 off just 69 balls in a rain-shortened ODI.
- ✓ Hope became the first player in history to score a century against all 12 Test-playing nations across all formats.
- ✓ He also tied the legendary Brian Lara with 19 ODI hundreds, the second-most for the West Indies.
- ✓ Despite his heroics, New Zealand chased down the target of 248, winning by 5 wickets and sealing the ODI series 2-0.
- ✓ The series was marked by close contests, with the West Indies consistently putting themselves in winning positions but failing to close them out.
A Captain's Knock for the Record Books
The scene was set at McLean Park for the second ODI, a match already feeling the pressure of a looming weather forecast. The game was cut down to 34 overs a side, forcing both teams to rethink their strategies. On a pitch offering plenty of pace and movement, it was a tricky proposition for the batters, and the new ball was especially challenging to handle. But that’s where captains earn their keep, and Shai Hope delivered a masterclass.
His innings was a spectacle of controlled aggression and beautiful timing. He smashed an unbeaten 109 from just 69 balls, an incredible feat given the conditions. The knock was laced with 13 fours and 4 sixes, and it felt like he was playing on a completely different surface to everyone else. This wasn't just a great score; it was a history-making one. With this hundred, his first in ODIs against New Zealand, he etched his name in the annals of cricket history.
The milestones just kept piling up. He moved level with the great Brian Lara for the second-most ODI hundreds for the West Indies with 19, with only Chris Gayle ahead on 25. He also breezed past the 6,000-run mark in ODIs, becoming the second-fastest West Indian to do so after the iconic Viv Richards. It was a day of incredible personal achievement for the skipper.
The Agonizing Chase That Slipped Away
Thanks to Hope's brilliance, the West Indies posted a formidable 247/9. On that pitch and in a shortened game, it felt like a winning total. New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, even admitted his team thought the match might get washed out. But the Kiwis are a clinical side, and they set about their chase with a calm professionalism that has become their trademark. They knew defending on that ground, with a wet outfield and only four fielders outside the circle, would be tough.
The chase started steadily before Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway put their foot on the accelerator, both scoring well-made fifties and building a fantastic platform. Even when the West Indies managed to wrestle back some momentum with a few wickets in the middle overs, Tom Latham stepped in to anchor the innings, expertly rotating the strike and never letting the required rate get out of hand. Santner himself then came in and played a brisk, crucial cameo that pushed New Zealand ahead at the perfect time.
The end was a nail-biter, but it was ultimately decided by a few crucial errors. With 8 runs needed from the final over, the pressure was on young bowler Jayden Seales. Unfortunately, a flurry of wayward deliveries, including what Hope later called "freebies," cost the West Indies dearly. The most heartbreaking moment was a full toss no-ball that Latham guided away for four, which completely swung the game. New Zealand cruised home with three balls to spare, sealing the series victory.
A Leader's Humble Perspective
What makes Shai Hope such a compelling figure isn't just his talent, but his mindset. Despite playing one of the best innings of his life and being named Player of the Match, he was anything but satisfied. In his post-match interview, his focus was entirely on the team's loss. "I always look at it this way - I got, what, 109 or 110? Still not enough," he said. "I needed 120 or 130 for us to win. That's how I see it."
This is the mark of a true leader. He made it crystal clear that personal milestones mean little compared to team success. "Everyone knows by now - I love to win," he stated. "I'd rather score 2 and we win than get a hundred and lose." He pointed to the bowling in the middle overs, where he felt they "went off the boil a bit," and the challenge of a young team finding its footing in foreign conditions. It's this relentless drive and accountability that makes you root for him and his team.
A Familiar Story of "So Close, Yet So Far"
Here's the thing—this second ODI wasn't an isolated incident. It was a painful echo of the first match of the series. In that encounter, it was New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell who played the role of centurion, smashing a match-winning 119 to help the hosts post 269. The West Indies, in their chase, again found themselves just short, losing by a mere seven runs.
That match followed a similar script. A slow start hampered the chase before a valiant effort from the middle and lower order, led by a fantastic 55 from Sherfane Rutherford, brought them agonizingly close. It took them to the final over, needing 20 runs, but they just couldn't get over the line. Jayden Seales was actually the pick of the bowlers in that game, taking 3-41, showing the talent this young team possesses.
As Hope himself pointed out, the West Indies have pushed New Zealand in nearly every game. They've been in positions to win, with four matches now being decided in the final stages. You can see the pieces are there. The talent is undeniable, but the final, crucial step of closing out a game against a top-tier opponent remains just out of reach. It's a learning curve, and a painful one, but it shows they are on the right track.
Conclusion
When the dust settled, the series belonged to New Zealand, but the headlines deservedly belonged to Shai Hope. His record-breaking, sublime century was a beacon of individual brilliance in a series defined by team heartbreak. It was a performance that reminded everyone of his immense class and unwavering commitment to his team's cause, even when the result didn't go his way.
The story of this tour for the West Indies is one of immense promise and near misses. They have proven they can compete with the best, pushing a formidable New Zealand side to the very end on multiple occasions. The challenge now is turning those competitive performances into victories. For Shai Hope, it was a tour of personal triumphs set against a backdrop of collective frustration, but his leadership and world-class batting are clear signs of brighter days ahead for West Indies cricket.
