West Indies right-hander Shai Hope stroked a superb unbeaten hundred as the two-day tour game against the touring Indians finished in tame draw at Warner Park here Sunday.

The Barbadian, whose start to international cricket has been underwhelming, hit an unbeaten 118 to help the WICB President’s XI up to 281 for seven, in reply to India’s 258 for three.

Hope struck 15 boundaries in an innings requiring 229 balls in a shade under six hours at the crease, once again reiterating his credentials as one of the regional finest young players.

“It gives you a lot of confidence because coming up against a decent side like India, the bowlers, the batters all of them are world class so you have to take something from it,” Hope said afterward.

He added: “Whenever you come to the crease it’s about applying yourself no matter what time of day it is … the wicket was primarily on the slow side so it was about applying yourself.

“It was difficult to score quickly on it but as long as you batted and wore down the bowlers, it became a lot easier in the evening.”

Opener Rajendra Chandrika stroked 69 to press his claim to selectors while Jomel Warrican hammered a cavalier unbeaten 50 down the order.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed four for 67.

Captain Leon Johnson fell in the day’s seventh over for two when he edged seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Shikhar Dhawan at slip with the score on seven.

Hope and Chandrika then added 122 for the second wicket, a stand which left the hosts well placed at 67 for one at the lunch break.

Unbeaten on 35 at the interval, the right-handed Chandrika stroked ten fours in an innings which spanned 142 balls and 3-1/2 hours before finally perishing.

He came down the wicket to Mishra, missed a big heave and was stumped at 129 for two. Off the very next ball, Jermaine Blackwood essayed a wild swing at the same bowler and edged a catch behind.

Roston Chase made three before flicking seamer Mohammed Shami to mid-wicket and Shane Dowrich was lbw to Umesh Yadav for seven, to leave the President’s XI stumbling on 151 for five at tea.

Mishra knocked over Vishaul Singh (14) and Damion Jacobs (1) after the break to leave the hosts on 177 for seven but Hope and Warrican then frustrated India in an unbroken 104-run, eighth wicket stand which highlighted the final session.

Warrican faced 75 balls and counted seven fours.

Hope, unbeaten on 62 at tea, reached three figures in the final hour, with 12 fours off 208 balls.

Scores:

INDIA 258/3 (Rohit Sharma 54, Shikar Dhawan 51, Lokesh Rahul 50, Cheteshwar Pujara 34; Jomel Warrican 2-61).

WICB PRESIDENT’S XI 281/7 (Shai Hope 118 not out, Rajendra Chandrika 69, Jomel Warrican 50 not out; Amit Mishra 4-67).

 

(Taken from windiescricket.com)