Ranchi — West Indies captain Shai Hope struck a sensational unbeaten 102 off just 45 balls as the visitors chased down a mammoth 250-run target to beat India by six wickets in the second T20I at the JSCA International Stadium Complex on Friday .
The win levels the five-match series at 1-1 and marks West Indies’ highest successful run chase in T20 internationals — the second-highest in men’s T20I history overall .
India’s Innings: Samson Leads the Charge
Put in to bat, India posted 249 for 5, their highest T20I total against West Indies . Sanju Samson was the protagonist, smashing 82 off 41 balls with nine fours and four sixes .
Samson was dropped on six by Kamil Pooran and made the visitors pay dearly. He and Ishan Kishan (43 off 22) put together a 97-run partnership off just 43 balls before Roston Chase dismissed Kishan in the 12th over .
Chase was West Indies’ best bowler, returning figures of 3 for 24 from his four overs, removing Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shivam Dube . Shamar Springer claimed two wickets, though his final over conceded 23 runs as Shreyas Iyer (40) and Tilak Varma (44 not out) accelerated .
The Chase: Hope and Rutherford Turn the Tide
West Indies’ reply began disastrously. Mayank Yadav removed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer with successive deliveries in the opening over, leaving the visitors reeling at 5 for 2 . When Yadav also dismissed Rovman Powell for 24, West Indies were 58 for 3 and staring at defeat .
Then came the turnaround.
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford produced a breathtaking 120-run partnership off just 54 deliveries . Rutherford was particularly brutal, smashing 84 off 37 balls with seven fours and seven sixes . He was dropped on 38 by Mayank Yadav at short fine leg — a miss that proved costly .
Kuldeep Yadav eventually dismissed Rutherford in the 15th over, but by then West Indies needed just 72 off 35 balls .
Romario Shepherd joined his captain and finished the job in style, blasting an unbeaten 34 off just 13 balls . The winning runs came when Hope smashed Axar Patel for back-to-back sixes — the second of which brought up his century and sealed the victory with nine balls to spare .
Hope’s 102 not out came off just 45 deliveries, with six fours and nine sixes, earning him the Player of the Match award .
Captain’s Reaction: “Dew Played a Massive Role”
India captain Shreyas Iyer was gracious in defeat, acknowledging the conditions and West Indies’ brilliance.
“Honestly speaking, you cannot put a number to it, because when the dew factor comes in, it plays a massive role,” Iyer said at the presentation ceremony. “And even 249 was chased in with two overs to spare. The margin of error on this wicket is very minor, and any delivery, if you miss it, if you miss to execute it, it was going onto the stands. Credit where it’s due, they batted amazing” .
Hope, who also scored a century in the ODI series, said the belief never wavered despite the early collapse.
“When you chase here in India, you always give yourself a chance. You always think you’re in the game, regardless of what score is on the board,” he said. “But five for two was always going to be challenging. When we got that partnership there, we just got some more impetus in the innings” .
Records Broken
The match produced several notable milestones :
- West Indies’ highest T20I chase: 250, surpassing their previous best
- Second-highest successful chase in men’s T20Is: only South Africa’s 259 against West Indies in 2023 is higher
- India’s highest T20I total against West Indies: 249/5
- Fastest fifty for India vs West Indies: Sanju Samson reached his half-century in 21 balls
- Rutherford’s streak: Third consecutive 50-plus score in T20Is
What’s Next
The series now moves to Indore for the third T20I on Sunday, October 11 . With the series level at 1-1, India will look to bounce back, while West Indies will be buoyed by one of the greatest chases in T20 history.
India’s captain Shreyas Iyer has been in excellent form, having scored his maiden T20I century (102 off 43) in the series opener at Lucknow, where India won by eight wickets . But West Indies have shown they have the firepower to match the hosts — and the series is now tantalisingly poised.
