The West Indies pulled off a remarkable chase in Ranchi on Friday, reaching 252 for four to beat India by six wickets with nine balls to spare. It was the highest successful run chase in their T20 history and the second highest in the format overall, behind only South Africa’s 259 for four against the West Indies in March. The five-match series is now level at 1-1.
Captain Shai Hope led the way with an unbeaten 102 off just 45 balls, including nine sixes and six fours. It was his second T20 international hundred and his third century against India in four innings across T20s and one-day internationals. Sherfane Rutherford backed him up with a blistering 84 off 37 balls, and the pair added 120 from 54 deliveries before Romario Shepherd finished the job with 34 off 13.
India had looked in control after posting 249 for five, their eighth-highest T20 total. Sanju Samson struck 82 off 41 balls and shared a stand of 97 off 43 with Ishan Kishan, who made 43. Roston Chase briefly slowed them with three wickets for 24, but Shreyas Iyer, with 40 off 18, and Tilak Varma, unbeaten on 44 off 18, added 83 in 32 balls to lift the score close to 250.
The reply started shakily as Mayank Yadav took three wickets, removing Shimron Hetmyer first ball. Hope, however, raced to his fifty off 24 balls and never lost his nerve, reaching three figures off 45 deliveries.
The teams meet again in Indore on Sunday for the third match.
