It was a masterful captain’s innings from Hope that put the Windies in a commanding position at the halfway stage, despite losing the toss.
Coming in after John Turner sent back the West Indies openers, the Barbadian oversaw a rebuilding job with Carty which swung the momentum firmly back in the hosts’ favour.
Despite a wicket offering movement for the bowlers and a slow outfield, Hope made a blistering start, hitting Turner and Adil Rashid for sixes early on before exercising restraint to keep the scoreboard ticking.
While Carty was dropped twice, Hope offered just one chance for England on 60 when he nicked Bethell, only for wicketkeeper Salt to drop it.
After the early fireworks, he next took the aerial route in the 23rd over to bring up his half-century from 66 balls and his team’s 100, sending Bethell over the mid-wicket boundary.
The 30-year-old targeted the England spinners and brought up his 17th ODI ton in 118 balls while Rutherford added a blistering 54 from 36 balls to build on his captain’s innings.
When Hope finally departed, he had left the Windies in a winning position, bar an inspired knock from England, which came in the form of Livingstone’s blistering innings.
