RANCHI — West Indies captain Shai Hope produced an innings of sheer class and power, smashing an unbeaten 102 off just 45 balls to guide his side to a stunning six-wicket victory over India in the second T20I on Friday. With this high-scoring masterclass, the visitors successfully chased down a daunting target of 250 and leveled the five-match series 1-1.
Put in to bat first under heavy dew conditions, India put up an imposing total of 249/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Sanju Samson anchored the innings brilliantly with a blazing 82 off 41 balls, while valuable contributions from Ishan Kishan (43), Shreyas Iyer (40), and an explosive cameo by Tilak Varma (44* off 18) ensured the hosts crossed the 245-run mark. Roston Chase was the standout bowler for the Caribbean side, picking up 3 wickets for 24 runs.
In response, the West Indies faced early setbacks, but captain Shai Hope steadied the ship alongside Sherfane Rutherford (84 off 37 balls). The duo turned the match on its head with a blistering 100-run partnership off just 43 deliveries, launching a barrage of boundaries and maximums that left the Indian bowling attack searching for answers.
Hope kept his composure under pressure, bringing up a magnificent, unbeaten century and finishing off the game in style with a massive hit over extra cover off Axar Patel. The Caribbean side crossed the finish line at 252/4 with 9 balls to spare, registering one of the most remarkable run-chases in T20I history.
The series is now tied 1-1 as both teams head to Indore for the crucial third T20I.
