By: Staff Writer
Shai Hope and John Campbell have etched their names in the cricket history books as they have set a new world record for an opening partnership- The top order Windies batsmen amassed 369 in the first One Day International (ODI) against Ireland, in Dublin, on Sunday.
The historic knock saw both Campbell and Hope recording centuries.
Campbell recorded his maiden ODI century, (179) off of 137 deliveries while his partner Hope, recorded his 5th century. Celebrating 50 ODI matches, Hope scored 172 runs off 152 balls.
The new record partnership replaced the previous best of 304 set by Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman of Pakistan against Zimbabwe in 2018.
The previous best by a West Indian opening pair was 200, set by Stuart Williams and Shivnarine Chanderpaul against India in 1997. Overall, the total is the second highest ODI runs partnership for any batting pair, just behind the 372 set by Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle against Zimbabwe in 2015.
The record partnership gave West Indies the momentum against Ireland, after ending the innings with a total of 381 for 3.
The final score was also the second highest ODI total posted by the West Indies, just below the 389 set by the regional team against England at the National Stadium in Grenada earlier this year.
