When Shai Hope walked in to bat on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Napier with West Indies reeling at 86 for 5, no one expected the storm that was about to break. But by the 34th over, he’d smashed 109 not out off just 66 balls — 13 fours, 4 sixes, 17 boundaries in total — and tied the legendary Brian Lara at 19 ODI centuries for the West Indies Cricket Board. It wasn’t just a century. It was a statement. And it came in the middle of a match West Indies ultimately lost.
A Century That Tied a Legend
Hope’s 109 wasn’t just fast — it was surgical. With the pitch slowing under damp conditions after rain reduced the match to 34 overs a side, he carved through New Zealand’s attack like a surgeon with a scalpel. His 50 came in just 42 balls. The century followed in 66. That’s faster than Lara ever reached his 19th in 285 innings. Hope has done it in 142. The numbers don’t lie: he’s the most efficient century-maker in West Indian history, bar none.
And here’s the twist: he did it against New Zealand for the first time. He’s now scored ODI hundreds against 12 different nations. That’s not luck. That’s adaptability. That’s elite-level consistency. He also crossed 6,000 ODI runs in this innings — becoming the 11th West Indian to reach that milestone. Lara did it in 285 innings. Chris Gayle took 301. Hope? 142. The math is brutal in its clarity.
The Match That Got Away
West Indies posted 247 for 9 in 34 overs — a competitive total on a tricky surface. But no one else crossed 30. The rest of the batting order? Silent. The spotlight was entirely on Hope. And when he fell — well, he didn’t fall. He was still there at the end. But his team wasn’t.
Enter Mitchell Santner. Seventh in the order. Not a finisher by reputation. But on this day, he turned into a hurricane. Fifteen balls. 34 not out. Three fours. Two sixes. One impossible win. Santner didn’t just win the match — he rewrote the script. New Zealand needed 12 runs off the last over. Santner hit the first two balls for four and six. The crowd went silent. Then erupted. The chase was over. New Zealand won by five wickets.
It was the kind of finish that makes cricket fans forget the scorecard. The kind that makes analysts whisper, "That’s why we love the game." And it came at the cost of Hope’s historic day.
Legacy in the Making
"Shai Hope plays like he’s carrying the hopes of an entire cricketing culture," said former West Indies captain Darren Sammy after the match. "He doesn’t just bat — he rescues. When the team’s in ruins, he’s the one who picks up the pieces. And now he’s tied Lara. That’s not just personal achievement. That’s legacy."
But Hope isn’t stopping there. "I’m proud to be level with Brian Lara," he said post-match. "But I’m still looking at Chris Gayle. Twenty-five centuries. That’s the next mountain."
Gayle’s 25 ODI centuries remain untouched — and the gap is wide. But Hope is closing in at a pace no one saw coming. He’s 33. Gayle was 36 when he hit his 25th. Hope has 142 innings to Gayle’s 301. If he stays fit, he could overtake Gayle by 2027.
What This Means for West Indies Cricket
West Indies cricket has spent decades chasing its past glory. The 1970s. The 1980s. The 1990s. The era of Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Lara. But Hope? He’s not nostalgia. He’s the present. And he’s forcing a reckoning.
For too long, the team has been defined by flashes of brilliance — explosive starts, sudden collapses. Hope is the rare constant. He’s the anchor in a storm. The one who doesn’t flinch when the pressure mounts. And now, with Lara’s record tied, he’s the face of a new generation.
But the team’s structure remains fragile. Without Hope, they’re vulnerable. Without a supporting cast that can consistently score 50+, they’ll keep losing matches they should win. The bowling attack? Inconsistent. The middle order? Unreliable. The system? Still searching.
Hope’s century didn’t win the game. But it reminded the world: West Indies still produce players who can change the course of a match in 66 balls. The question now is — will the system catch up to him?
What’s Next?
The three-match ODI series is now 2-0 to New Zealand. The final match in Wellington on November 22 will be a dead rubber — but for Hope, it’s a chance to make history. One more century. One more record. One more step past Lara.
And if he does it? The cricket world will have to acknowledge something new: the quiet captain from Barbados isn’t just carrying the team. He’s rewriting its history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Shai Hope’s century compare to Brian Lara’s in terms of efficiency?
Shai Hope reached his 19th ODI century in just 142 innings, while Brian Lara took 285 innings to reach the same milestone. Hope’s average per century is roughly 7.5 innings — Lara’s was 15. That makes Hope nearly twice as efficient. He also scored his 109 off 66 balls — the fastest of his career — compared to Lara’s average century strike rate of around 95 balls. Hope is not just matching records — he’s redefining them.
Why is Mitchell Santner’s innings considered so remarkable?
Santner came in at number seven with New Zealand needing 12 runs off the final over. He faced only 15 balls for his 34 not out — including a six and a four in the last over. His strike rate of 226.66 in that innings is among the highest ever in a successful ODI chase under pressure. He’s not known as a finisher, yet he delivered one of the most explosive, clutch knocks in recent ODI history — turning a potential loss into a dramatic win.
Who holds the record for most ODI centuries for the West Indies?
Chris Gayle holds the record with 25 ODI centuries for the West Indies, achieved in 301 innings. Shai Hope is now tied with Brian Lara at 19 centuries — second on the list. Hope is the only active West Indian in the top five and the only one with a realistic path to overtaking Gayle. If he maintains his current form, he could reach 25 centuries by late 2027.
How did the rain affect the match dynamics?
Rain reduced the match from 50 to 34 overs per side, altering the target from around 330 to 247. This favored aggressive batting — and gave Hope the chance to dominate rather than build. But it also compressed the chase, forcing New Zealand’s lower order to accelerate. Santner’s innings became possible only because the target was reduced — otherwise, he wouldn’t have been needed until the 45th over. The weather didn’t just shorten the game — it changed its soul.
What does Hope’s achievement mean for West Indies’ future in cricket?
Hope’s consistency offers a rare beacon of hope for a team that’s struggled with instability. His ability to deliver under pressure, combined with his rapid century rate, suggests he could be the cornerstone of a new era. But unless the West Indies Cricket Board invests in depth — especially in the middle order — Hope will keep carrying a team that’s not built to win. His record is personal. The team’s future? Still uncertain.
Is Shai Hope likely to break Chris Gayle’s ODI century record?
At his current rate — nearly one century every seven innings — Hope is on track to reach 25 ODI centuries by the end of 2027, assuming he plays 30 more matches. He’s 33, still in his prime, and has no signs of slowing down. Gayle took 301 innings to reach 25. Hope has done it in 142. If he stays fit and selected, breaking Gayle’s record isn’t just possible — it’s probable. The only question is: will the team give him enough support to keep playing?
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