West Indies captain Shai Hope said he may have to pay excess baggage fees after collecting his third Player of the Match award on the tour of India. His unbeaten 102 in the fourth Twenty20 International on Wednesday helped set up a series-levelling 24-run win in Hyderabad.
Hope also struck a century in the second T20I in Ranchi and hit two hundreds in the earlier one-day international leg. Although he was pleased with his performances, he said he was struggling to fit the awards into his luggage.
“To be honest, they are a bit heavy, and we have got to look at the luggage weight,” he quipped. “I think we are going to have some problems going back home.”
Opening stand laid the platform in Hyderabad
Hope said a good start was key, pointing to a 50-plus opening partnership. He said it gave the team a foundation, allowing the middle overs to be played more freely and a strong finish to be aimed for.
Hope hit nine sixes in his 50-ball innings, which drew praise from the opposition. India opener Sanju Samson said: “We need to respect what he has been doing.” He added that Hope had played some really good cricketing shots while not taking much risk.
Series decider and upcoming fixtures
Hope is expected to be in action again in Saturday’s series decider in Bengaluru. West Indies will then visit Bangladesh for a two-Test series later this month.
Hope is being rested ahead of the ODI World Cup qualifiers in February.
