Shai Hope produced an explosive 102 not out off just 45 balls to power West Indies past India in the highest successful chase in their T20 history, levelling the five-match series at 1-1.
In the match at Ranchi, India began strongly with 249-5, but West Indies responded spectacularly with 252-4, winning by six wickets with nine balls to spare. It was the second-highest successful chase in T20 history, behind only South Africa's 259-4 against West Indies themselves in March.
Hope, who struck nine sixes and six fours, posted his second T20 century. He was ably supported by Sherfane Rutherford, who made 84 off 37 balls, including seven sixes and seven fours. Together they fashioned a remarkable chase against the hosts.
For India, Sanju Samson contributed 82 off 41 balls. He and Abhishek Sharma opened with 42 in 24 balls before Ishan Kishan made a rapid 43 off 22. Samson reached fifty off just 21 balls with four sixes and nine fours in all. India were 79-1 in the powerplay and passed 100 after 8.1 overs, with the Kishan-Samson pair adding 97 in just 43 balls.
Roston Chase, however, changed the game when he removed Kishan in the 12th over and Shivam Dube two overs later, finishing with 3-24 from four overs. India slipped to 162-4 in the 15th over when Samson was dismissed by Shamar Springer. Shreyas Iyer hit 40 off 18 balls and Tilak Varma made 44 not out off 18, helping India finish strongly with six sixes between them, but despite an 83-run stand off 32 balls, they fell short of 250 and ended on their eighth-highest total in T20 history.
West Indies began the chase with Hope leading the way, scoring 50 off 24 balls, but lost three partners in the powerplay. Mayank Yadav (3-36) dismissed Kamil Pooran for 4 and Shimron Hetmyer for a duck before removing Rovman Powell (24) in his third over. Hope and Powell had revived the innings before Yadav dismissed Powell. Hope and Rutherford then combined for 120 off 54 balls. Kuldeep Yadav removed Rutherford in the 15th over, but Romario Shepherd smashed 34 off 13 balls with three sixes to complete the chase. Hope reached 100 off 45 balls, with his second fifty coming off just 21. It was Hope's third century against India in his last four innings in T20 and ODI cricket combined.
The third match will be played in Indore next Sunday.
