Hope pleased with West Indies’ T20 progress

NELSON, New Zealand:

West Indies white-ball captain, Shai Hope says he is satisfied with his team's recent T20 International cricket performances and the progress they have been making.

His comments came after Monday's rained out fourth T20I against New Zealand, where only 6.3 overs of play were possible.

The West Indies will now have to win the fifth and final match in Dunedin on Thursday to level the five-match series.

BANGLADESH DRUBBING

The regional side arrived in New Zealand on the back of a 3-0 drubbing of Bangladesh in their preceding T20I series.

Despite trailing 2-1 to the Black Caps, Hope said the Windies had shown grit and determination in the first three matches.

After winning the opener by seven runs, they went down by three runs and nine runs, respectively, in the second and third matches.

"I've been looking forward to this one, especially coming from Bangladesh I expected some better surfaces here in New Zealand.

"I think the guys have been playing really good cricket. It's just about us trying to progress as a team and it's great to see the fight that we've been showing," Hope said.

"Unfortunately, we didn't win those last two games, but every time you put yourself in those positions you obviously have a chance to win, so I'm very happy with the progress that we're making."

HEAVY SHOWERS

Only 6.3 overs were possible in Monday's fourth T20I before heavy showers forced the teams off the ground for the second time with the West Indies 38 for one.

The home side had the better start, as openers Alick Athanaze and Amir Jangoo struggled to get going after they were sent in to bat.

They only managed three runs off the first over bowled by Kyle Jamieson and two runs off the ensuing Jacob Duffy over.

Athanaze finally broke the shackles by hitting Jamieson for a four and six in the third over and he followed that up by pulling Duffy for a six over midwicket.

Rain then forced a brief delay after five overs, with the Windies 30 without loss.

New Zealand struck almost immediately once play resumed, with James Neesham having Athanaze caught at mid-on for 21 after his mistimed drive ballooned into the air.

Only seven more deliveries were sent down, however, before the rain returned and the umpires eventually agreed to abandon the match after close to two hours of persistent showers.

Jangoo was unbeaten on 12 off 18 balls, while Hope was three not out.

The fifth and final T20I will be played on Thursday at Dunedin.

"We didn't really get chance to get out there and maximise in this game," Hope maintained. "But we've still got a chance to level the series and that's our main focus for the next game."

- CMC