Shai Hope’s unbeaten century powers West Indies to record chase against India
West Indies produced a remarkable six-wicket victory over India in Ranchi, chasing down a formidable target of 250 to level the five-match T20I series at 1-1. Shai Hope’s explosive unbeaten 102 from just 45 balls and Sherfane Rutherford’s 84 off 37 transformed a difficult start into one of the most memorable run chases in men’s T20 cricket.
India had posted 249/5, driven by Sanju Samson’s 82 and a late surge from Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma. But on a dew-covered surface, the total was not enough to contain a West Indies side that struck 20 sixes. The visitors reached 252/4 in 18.3 overs, recording the second-highest successful chase in men’s T20Is and the highest ever by West Indies. The match’s 501 runs also made it the second-highest aggregate in the format’s history.
India’s big total built on Samson’s return to form
After winning the toss, Hope elected to bowl, anticipating that dew could make batting easier later in the evening. India’s innings began with a setback when Roston Chase removed Abhishek Sharma, but Samson soon took control after a tentative opening.
Samson was given a reprieve when Kamil Pooran dropped him at cover. He made the most of the opportunity, launching Akeal Hosein’s free hit for six and then taking the spinner apart in a 22-run over that included two sixes and two fours. Another dropped chance, this time at mid-off when Samson was on 42, further helped India’s momentum.
The wicketkeeper-batter reached 50 from 21 balls, matching the joint-fastest half-century by an Indian against West Indies in T20Is. At the other end, Ishan Kishan made an energetic 43 from 22 deliveries on his home ground. Their second-wicket stand produced 97 runs from 43 balls, taking India to 127/1 at the halfway point and putting the hosts on course for a potentially even bigger total.
Chase slows India before late-innings fireworks
Chase became the key figure in West Indies’ attempt to regain control. The offspinner finished with 3/24, dismissing Kishan with a delivery that stayed low before also removing Shivam Dube, who dragged the ball onto his stumps. Abhishek had already fallen to a cramped shot, leaving India with less freedom through the middle overs.
India managed only 42 runs for three wickets between overs 11 and 15. Samson, who had looked increasingly fluent, was dismissed for 82 after upper-cutting Shamar Springer’s slower ball to third man. His innings nevertheless gave India a strong platform and marked an important response after a lean stretch of form.
Iyer and Tilak then changed the pace of the innings. The pair added 80 runs from the final five overs, taking advantage of loose deliveries, wides and full tosses. With West Indies also penalised for a slow over-rate, only four fielders were allowed outside the circle for the last over. Tilak seized the opportunity, hitting Springer’s first three balls of the 20th over for six. He finished unbeaten on 44 from 18 balls, while Iyer made 40 from 18, lifting India to 249/5.
Mayank Yadav strikes early, but Hope and Rutherford take charge
India’s defence began in spectacular fashion. Mayank Yadav removed Nicholas Pooran when a pull shot ended in a top edge, then bowled Shimron Hetmyer first ball with a 144kph delivery that jagged back into the stumps. At 5/2, West Indies were under immediate pressure.
Hope responded by attacking Axar Patel, collecting two sixes and a four in the fourth over. Rovman Powell added a brisk 24 from 13 balls before Mayank bowled him, but Rutherford arrived with the intent to keep the chase moving. He struck three of his first four deliveries to the boundary, and West Indies closed the Powerplay at 72/3, keeping pace with the asking rate despite losing three wickets.
The decisive partnership came next. Hope reached his half-century from 24 balls, while Rutherford repeatedly cleared the boundary and punished India’s attempts to restrict him outside off stump. Rutherford was dropped on 39 by Mayank at short fine leg, a costly missed chance as the left-hander went on to make his third consecutive T20I score of 50 or more.
Hope and Rutherford added 120 from just 54 balls, turning the chase from a high-risk pursuit into a realistic finish. Axar’s 12th over cost 23 runs, followed by 18 from Naman Dhir’s next, and the required rate fell sharply. Kuldeep Yadav eventually ended Rutherford’s innings in the 15th over, finding his edge with a wide, flat delivery. But by then West Indies needed only 72 from 35 balls.
Shepherd’s late assault seals the T20I series comeback
India needed quick wickets to revive their chances, but Romario Shepherd made sure the momentum stayed with the visitors. Despite having limped off while bowling earlier, he returned to the crease and joined Hope for a devastating finish.
Kuldeep’s 17th over went for 24 runs as Hope cleared long-off twice and Shepherd launched a six over midwicket. Arshdeep Singh conceded another 17 in the next over, leaving India with little room to recover. Shepherd ended unbeaten on 34, providing the final push alongside Hope.
With 10 runs required from 12 balls, Hope finished the match in three deliveries from Axar. He slog-swept a six to move to 96, then lofted another over long-off. The shot brought up his century, completed the chase and secured the series-levelling win in the same moment.
What the Ranchi result means for the series
The scorecard highlights the contrast between India’s boundary mix and West Indies’ power hitting. India struck more fours, but West Indies hit seven additional sixes—20 to India’s 13—with nine of the visitors’ maximums coming from Hope. The dew, anticipated by Hope at the toss, also made life difficult for India’s spinners. Axar conceded 63 runs in 3.3 overs, while Kuldeep gave up 53 in four.
For fans looking ahead to the next match, this result makes any cricket prediction more complicated. India showed they can build a massive total, while West Indies demonstrated that even an early collapse does not rule out a successful chase when their power hitters find rhythm. The next contest may hinge on how India manage the dew, protect the boundary and create chances before partnerships take hold.
Brief scores: India 249/5 (Sanju Samson 82, Tilak Varma 44 not out, Ishan Kishan 43; Roston Chase 3/24, Shamar Springer 2/64) lost to West Indies 252/4 in 18.3 overs (Shai Hope 102 not out, Sherfane Rutherford 84, Romario Shepherd 34 not out; Mayank Yadav 3/36) by six wickets.
