T20 World Cup: Hope takes ‘blame’ for West Indies’ exit

Shai Hope did not dodge the question.

West Indies had posted 195 in their virtual quarter-final against India at Eden Gardens, but his 33-ball 32- which included 17 dot balls, just 10 attacking shots and nine false shots, according to ESPNcricinfo’s data- left them a few runs short as India chased the target with four balls to spare.

“Yes, I’ll take the blame,” Hope said when asked if his innings played a role in them being eliminated in the last Super Eights game. He admitted he had not moved at the tempo he usually operates with.

“I should have batted a lot faster” he said.

“But in a situation like this, when you’re struggling…I don’t think I was batting badly. It’s just I was hitting it to the fielders, and then trying to play the situation a bit more.”

Hope has been West Indies’ second-most prolific run-getter this tournament and his performances had ensured the team had a spotless record before the games against South Africa and India.

But at times, he said, timing simply evades you.

“It’s one of those things, sometimes you just don’t get the ball away,” Hope said.

“As much as we would love to come and hit every single ball, but it just doesn’t happen. I hit a few fielders today as well, so it didn’t help. Then I thought India bowled pretty well, to be fair.”

Despite the reflections on his own innings, West Indies still scored a further 163 runs in the other 14.3 overs, and Hope said he still thought his partnership of 68 for the first wicket with Roston Chase had set a platform that was in the template the team had been aiming for all tournament.

“So we actually had a platform setting,” Hope said.

“So as much as I personally would love to be a bit more fluent in the powerplay, you’ve still got to take things in stride. Today we were 45 in the powerplay for no loss.

“With the batting depth that we have, I don’t see it as a big, big issue. But obviously, I was trying for a lot more. Those are the standards that we set as a team.”

Despite the exit, Hope reflected on his team’s campaign with a lot of positives.

“We had 38 wickets out of a possible 40 in the group stages,” he said.

“And then from a batting standpoint, Shimron Hetmyer coming in at No. 3 and doing what he does best. A lot of the batters coming in and contributing to those bigger totals that we got in this tournament.”

“Then Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie with the ball, Romario Shepherd had a hat-trick and five-for. So I thought the guys represented the region well. And I think we’re all going to go home with our heads held high.” (ESPNcricinfo)