‘The guys are gonna come hard again’ – Shai Hope exudes confidence ahead of decider ODI against India

Shai Hope. (Photo Source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)

West Indies skipper Shai Hope believes his team will come hard against India in the ODI series decider which will be contested at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday, August 1. The hosts staged a stunning comeback in the second ODI registering a six-wicket win after falling short in the opening match in Barbados.

Hope, who struck a half-century in the second ODI to help his team outplay the tourists, said that he had assured that they would come back and level the series and that they have done the same. He is confident that his team will put up a fight again in the third and final ODI.

“Very satisfied to be honest, like I said in the previous game we want to come back and level the series and we have done it. We gotta win the next game to win the series. The guys are gonna come hard again. We keep speaking about attitude, whenever we are on the field we need to show it,” Hope said during the post-match presentation.

We need to replicate our plans and show some good attitude: Hope

Shai Hope, who won the Player of the Match award, went on to say that the West Indies must replicate their strategies and maintain a positive mentality in order to clinch the series.

“We need to keep repeating it more and more, to start with the new ball it was tough, the bowlers did their job and the batters did the job in the end. We need to replicate our plans and show some good attitude,” the 29-year-old added.

In terms of the game, stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya lost the toss. West Indies’ decision to bowl first bore fruit, as India were bundled out for 181 runs, with Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd picking three wickets apiece. Shai Hope led his team from the front, smashing an unbeaten 63-run knock as West Indies chased down the target in the 37th over. For the visitors, Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav grabbed three and one wicket, respectively.