World Cup Qualifiers 2023| Milestones Galore as Hope and Pooran Steamroll Nepal With Record-Breaking Stand
Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran [Source: Twitter]
The ninth group-stage encounter of the ongoing ICC World Cup qualifiers witnessed the Caribbean duo of Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran reign supreme over a spirited Nepal bowling attack at the iconic Harare Sports club in Zimbabwe. A mammoth 216-run stand between these two players not only ensured a formidable score for West Indies but also allowed them to script their name in the cricketing folklore by breaking multiple milestones.
After being put into bat, West Indies had a horrendous start to their innings, losing Kyle Mayers and Johnson Charles cheaply inside five overs. To make matters worse for the men in maroon, wily spinner Sandeep Lamichhane got rid of the well-set Brandon King, reducing them to 55 for three in 15.3 overs.
However, Mr dependable Shai Hope and swashbuckling Nicholas Pooran unleashed their absolute best, forming a 216-run stand and setting the record for the second-best fourth-wicket partnership for West Indies in ODI cricket.
Highest 4th wicket stand for WI in ODIs
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper- 226 vs South Africa, East London, 1999
- Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran- 216 vs Nepal, Harare, 2023
- Kirk Edwards and Dwayne Bravo- 211 vs New Zealand, Hamilton, 2014
- Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin- 192 vs Australia, Bridgetown, 2016
- Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin- 165 vs India, Kochi, 2014
Hope, who slammed a scintillating 129-ball 132, equalled legendary former batter Brian Lara for the second-most away ODI hundreds (13) for West Indies. Riding on blistering tons from these two players, West Indies posted a massive 339-run total on the board and will start as favourites to win this match in the second half.
 "Debashis Sarangi")
