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Shai Hope Enters MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli Territory With Stunning Century in ICC World Cup Qualifiers

image-lj8a0hpkShai Hope & Nicholas Pooran smashed brilliant tons (ICC Twitter)

West Indies skipper Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran propelled their side to a commanding 101-run victory over Nepal in an exciting encounter at the ongoing ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe on Thursday.

Shai Hope joins MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in elite company

The West Indies vs Nepal clash witnessed an explosive batting display from Hope, who bludgeoned his way to a remarkable 132 runs off a mere 129 deliveries. His scintillating knock was laced with 10 boundaries and three sixes. Not to be outdone, Pooran also showcased his power hitting, smashing a brilliant 115 runs off just 94 balls. The duo’s combined efforts helped West Indies post a massive total of 339/7 in their 50 overs.

In response to the West Indies' daunting total, Nepal's hopes were dashed as they were skittled out for a modest 238 runs. Consequently, Nepal's position in Group A suffered a setback, as they slipped to the fourth spot, while the West Indies soared to the top of the table with their emphatic victory.

Interestingly, what adds an intriguing dimension to Hope's exceptional performance is the prestigious company he now finds himself in. Joining the ranks of cricketing legends such as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, Hope's remarkable achievement places him among the modern-day legends.

With his century against Nepal, the talented Barbados-born batsman now boasts a formidable ODI batting average of 50.26. This distinction ensures that Hope joins the exclusive club of just six players who have managed to maintain a batting average of 50 or above in ODIs after featuring in a minimum of 100 innings.

Accompanying Hope on this glorious list are former Indian captains MS Dhoni, who possesses an average of 50.58, and Virat Kohli, with an astounding average of 57.32. Furthermore, Joe Root (50.06), Michael Bevan (53.17), and AB de Villiers (53.50) complete the prestigious ensemble of batsmen with 50 plus batting averages in ODIs.

Meanwhile, having secured a dominant win over Nepal, Hope's men will now turn their attention to their forthcoming encounter against Zimbabwe. Set to take place on Saturday.