From Test grind to T20 fireworks: Hope can do it all

It was exactly a month ago to the day when Shai Hope spent 326 minutes at the crease and faced 234 balls for a superb 140 to rescue the first Test for the West Indies against New Zealand.

Kane Williamson was in the Black Caps team at the Hagley Oval and could only look on as Hope grinded the Kiwi bowlers into the Christchurch turf through his endurance and perseverance.

Hope and Williamson were on opposing sides again on Wednesday evening at Kingsmead. Only this time Hope was in Pretoria Capitals sky blue and the New Zealander clad in Durban’s Super Giants blue, green and red.

But again, Williamson had to endure a Hope masterclass. Only on this occasion it was of the destructive variety with the Windies ODI captain showing off his adaptability by blasting 118 not out off only 69 balls - the highest score in Betway SA20 history.

Showers had been predicted to interrupt the clash at Kingsmead all evening but ultimately it only rained sixes from Hope’s bat with the Capitals opener banging nine maximums to go with his nine fours to lead Capitals to a 15-run victory.

That’s a sum of 90 runs in boundaries with Hope timing the ball crisply throughout through a combination of drives, pulls, sweeps and cuts, whilst running hard between the wickets to get back on strike.

“You just have to be open-minded with the way you go about your game. There's not one particular way that you can think about batting or scoring,” Hope explained.

“It's about understanding what is required in a particular condition or situation against whatever opposition you're playing against. And adaptability is a word I've been using recently.

“Especially when you're travelling so often, when you're playing so much cricket around the world in different conditions, you've got to be adaptable quickly. And as a batter, I've been around for a while now. So, guys are expecting me to perform.

“So, the aim is to try to limit the failures, in a sense. But yeah, I just think batting is about trying to limit the dot balls as best as you can and finding ways to maximise and capitalise on any loose deliveries. And that's basically the name of my game in the last couple of years.

“It's just about being adaptable. And then when you check the scoreboard, it's just flowing.”

Hope, who has also now passed Sunrisers’ Eastern Cape’s Quinton de Kock as the leading run-scorer in the competition, was utilised at first drop before his promotion up the order to open the innings at Kingsmead.

While it proved to be a masterstroke by coach Sourav Ganguly, Hope once again stressed that it's all about adaptability regardless of when he walks to the crease.

“I was asked to do it yesterday if I'm comfortable doing it. I'm one of those guys, regardless of what's happening, if they ask me to open the batting, if they ask me to bat at nine or 10, then I'm going to try to be the best number nine or 10,” he said.

“But, yeah, I just think if I get a lot more deliveries, especially in the PowerPlay, then I can give myself a better chance of just going as deep as possible and setting up the game for the (Dewald) Brevis’ and the (Sherfane) Rutherfords and the guys in the back end who tend to finish the game well.

“But today was just one of those days when I was told that I'm going to open the batting. Just got to do it. Just do it.

“It was a bit challenging to start. Like I said, assessment was very crucial there. Understanding what strokes you can play.

“You know, trying to maximise the dimensions as well. Hit to the small side when you get the opportunity. And, yeah, it's important that you have the momentum coming at the right time.”

Hope also feels the best is yet to come from him and the rest of the Capitals as the business end of Betway SA20 Season 4 approaches.

“I don't think we've played our best cricket yet, but we've shown that we've got the capabilities of winning more games and being a strong team,” he said.

“So just got to keep building that confidence and I think wins like this certainly will drive a lot of confidence into the dressing room. And the way the guys finish in the back end with the ball, once again, another confidence booster.

“Maybe we're peaking at the right time. Still a lot of games to go. Still a few more games to really get some of the wrinkles out. But I'm still happy to see the direction the team's heading in.

“Just need to put more games together, more complete games together. As long as we do that, I think we're going to be a force to be reckoned with in the next few games.”