Hope falls just short of century as West Indies amass 321 at Taunton
Chris Gayle fell for a duck on his return to Somerset.
Shai Hope helped West Indies’ bid to climb to fifth place in the World Cup standings as Chris Gayle suffered a miserable Taunton return against Bangladesh.
Hope’s 96 from 121 balls was the mainstay of the West Indies’ 321 for eight after Bangladesh had won the toss and chosen to bowl in overcast conditions.
The stylish 25-year-old showed patience against a disciplined Bangladesh attack, striking only three boundaries in the first 88 deliveries he faced before opening up with a flat batted six and pulled four off Mustafizur Rahman.
Shai Hope top-scored with 96 while Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis also hit half-centuries. For Bangladesh, Mustafizur and Saifuddin both took three wickets. #WIvBAN | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/x3yTovpvVu
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 17, 2019
Hope’s diligence allowed late-innings impetus from Shimron Hetmyer – who matched the 25-ball 50 of Australia’s Alex Carey as the fastest in the tournament – and skipper Jason Holder, who struck 33 from 15 balls.
All that was in stark contrast to the performance of opener Gayle, who looked hopelessly out of touch during his brief 13-ball stay.
Gayle had a successful spell at Somerset a few years ago but he poked around unconvincingly before edging Mohammad Saifuddin for Mushfiqur Rahim to take a smart low catch behind the stumps.
It was the second duck of Gayle’s World Cup career, both against Bangladesh, and the prelude to the lowest scoring powerplay of the tournament – 32 for one.
Bangladesh were able to restrict them with some fine fielding, particularly on the boundary rope, and through the crafty spin of Shakib Al-Hasan and Mehedi Hasan.
Lewis eventually started to unwind before falling for 70 off 67 balls, sending Shakib straight to substitute fielder Shabbir Rahaman on the long-off boundary.
Hetmyer, who reached 1,000 career ODI runs on making 34, smashed four fours and three sixes.
As well as equalling Carey’s record at this tournament, it was the third fastest by a West Indies batsman in World Cup history.
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) June 17, 2019
But Hetmyer’s innings came to an end when he skied Mustafizur to Tamim Iqbal at mid-wicket.
Holder maintained the momentum by smashing four fours and two sixes before Hope, attempting a big finish, fell four short of his century by becoming Mustafizur’s third victim.
Saifuddin also claimed a third wicket by bowling Darren Bravo with the final ball of the innings, but the West Indies had managed to post a score set to test Bangladesh.
