West Indies’ Shai Hope (Kerry Marshall/Photosport via AP) New Zealand took an elusive 2-0 lead in the one-day international series against the West Indies with a five-wicket win in Napier on Wednesday, powered by a rare century partnership between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, while West Indies’ Shai Hope scored a remarkable century in a losing cause.The match, shortened to 34 overs per side due to rain, saw West Indies post 247-9 after being put into bat first. Hope’s excellent innings of 109 included 13 fours and four sixes.Conway scored 90 off 84 balls and Ravindra contributed 56 off 46 deliveries, forming a partnership of 106 runs off 100 balls. This marked New Zealand’s maiden century partnership for the opening pair in 73 matches over a span of five years.Hope achieved a major milestone by crossing 6,000 ODI runs during his innings, becoming the second fastest West Indian batsman to reach the milestone after Viv Richards. His century against New Zealand completed his collection of hundreds against all Test nations.“I always look at it this way, I got 109. It was still not enough. I needed to get 120 or 130 to win. That’s how I look at it,” Hope said.Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner helped chase the target with important contributions of 39 and 34 runs respectively. New Zealand reached 248-5 with three balls remaining, helped by a crucial no-ball from Jayden Seales in the final over.Hope’s innings included an anxious period when he was stuck on 90 for almost three overs as partners fell at the other end. West Indies found themselves at 235-9 when Shamar Springer was dismissed.Seales managed a single to put Hope on strike, who then completed her century with a six off Kyle Jamieson. The century was the fifth fastest by a West Indies in ODIs.The win extended New Zealand’s impressive record of 11 consecutive series wins at home. The match conditions were challenging, with the wet weather causing significant ball swings at the start of the innings.The final match of the series is scheduled for Saturday, with New Zealand having already clinched the series.
