Mumbai: Shimron Hetmyer has been an “asset” for the West Indies at No.3 in the ongoing T20 World Cup, said skipper Shai Hope as he regretted the big-hitter getting “wasted” down the batting order previously.
Hetmyer’s 34-ball 85 was instrumental in the Caribbean side’s massive 107-run win over Zimbabwe in a Super Eight match here on Monday, which Hope described as a great “confidence booster” ahead of clashes against South Africa and India.
Hetmyer struck seven sixes and as many fours to help the West Indies post 254/6 — the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history.
“The way he is batting, I think sometimes, he was kind of wasted down the bottom in the innings. He’s such a good player, he can bat in all situations… (against) spin (and) pace,” Hope told reporters after the match.
“To utilise him in that phase, he comes out and plays with that freedom that we wanted him to play with. He’s been an asset for us, especially in this tournament. We gave him the role from South Africa (series and) he has embraced it,” he added.
Hetmyer has been a lower-order floater for a major part of his career, taking a position anywhere between numbers 5 to 7 for his proven credentials of being a finisher. But he has shown himself to be equally effective higher up the order in the ongoing tournament.
Hope lauded the West Indies’ all-round show against Zimbabwe, in which spinners Gudakesh Motie (4/28) and Akeal Hosein (3/28) also had a big role to play.
“The way we’ve been playing, it certainly gives us a lot of confidence,” Hope said after the West Indies notched up their fifth consecutive win in the tournament.
“(It was a) great, great start, great confidence booster. But those games are gone. We’ve got to look ahead now. We’ve got South Africa next, and then India after that,” he said.
Hope singled out Motie for praise, saying he put in the hard yards away from the game.
“He got a little period before, it was the New Zealand series (that) he went home, worked on some skills. You can see he’s back to where he was before,” Hope said.
“He even added something to his game as well, that wrist spinner has been very, very crucial for us, especially against the lefties.”
“The way we’ve been playing, it certainly gives us a lot of confidence,” Hope said after the West Indies notched up their fifth consecutive win in the tournament.
“(It was a) great, great start, great confidence booster. But those games are gone. We’ve got to look ahead now. We’ve got South Africa next, and then India after that,” he said.
Hope singled out Motie for praise, saying he put in the hard yards away from the game.
“He got a little period before, it was the New Zealand series (that) he went home, worked on some skills. You can see he’s back to where he was before,” Hope said.
“He even added something to his game as well, that wrist spinner has been very, very crucial for us, especially against the lefties.”
