West Indies skipper Shai Hope has credited former Indian captain MS Dhoni for providing crucial advice that inspired his match-winning innings against England in the opening ODI. Dhoni, renowned for his calm demeanor and finishing prowess, often stresses the importance of extending a chase until the late stages.

"A very, very famous person, MS Dhoni -- we had a chat a while ago, and he was saying, 'You always have a lot more time than you think'," Hope said at the post-match presentation.

"That's one thing that has stuck with me throughout the years I've been playing ODI cricket," Hope added.

Facing a daunting target of 326, West Indies found themselves at 213/5, requiring 106 runs in the last 10 overs. Following a conversation with Dhoni, Hope, alongside Romario Shephard, delivered a spectacular performance, smashing an unbeaten 109 off 83 balls, including four boundaries and seven sixes.

Also Read: Aakash Chopra reflects upon Rinku Singh's performance

The partnership secured a memorable win for West Indies, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In the process, Hope also recorded his 16th ODI century, marking the fastest century of his career.

Hope went effortlessly through the gears, rotating the strike well. He went past 5,000 ODI runs before, with 90 needed off 48 balls, Shepherd went on the attack to Curran, muscling two leg-side sixes in an over containing 19 runs.

The victory showcased the effectiveness of Dhoni's advice to "take the game deep" as a strategic approach for successful chases.

 

Inputs from PTI