Shai Hope’s well-paced 119* – his 11th ODI hundred – helped the West Indies to a rather comfortable win in the first ODI and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match affair.
The visitors were set a 247-run target in 45 overs, following a DLS adjustment following a rain interruption during the Netherlands’ first-innings effort of 240/7 from 45 overs. Hope struck 12 fours and two sixes during his 130-ball stay at the crease, which included a winning hit off Ryan Klein past the backward point fence.
The right-hander added a 120-run opening stand with Shamrah Brooks (60 off 67) to lay the platform before Netherlands staged a minor fightback with Brooks’ dismissal in the 24th over.
Right-arm quick Logan van Beek removed Brooks and Nkrumah Bonner off successful deliveries, while captain Nicholas Pooran fell to Aryan Dutt’s off-break, as 120/0 became 133/3 within three overs.
However, Hope added another 116 unbeaten with Brandon King (58* off 51) for the third wicket to ensure that the target was achieved with 11 balls to spare.
Earlier, Vikramjit Singh (47) and Max O’Dowd (39) added 63 in the first 12 overs after being put in to bat. They were well placed at 102/1 in the 20th over before losing their way to 155/5 by the end of 34th.
Debutant Teja Nidamanuru scored an unbeaten 58 off 51, which included three fours and two sixes to guide the hosts to 240/7. Kyle Mayers and Akeal Hosein bagged two wickets each, with the latter showing great control throughout his nine-over spell, which yielded mere 29. Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph and Anderson Philip snared a wicket each.
The second and the third T20I will be played at the same venue on June 2 and June 4, respectively.
Brief scores
Netherlands 240/7 from 45 overs (Nidamanuru 58*, Singh 47, Hosein 2/29) lose to West Indies 249/3 from 43.1 overs (Hope 119*, Brooks 60, King 58*) by seven wickets (DLS method)
