Skipper Shai Hope struck a magnificent unbeaten century before Keemo Paul produced a match-winning five-wicket haul as West Indies defeated India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday to level the five-match series 2-2.
Hope smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 50 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford contributed 49 not out off 26 deliveries as West Indies posted a formidable 247/3 after being asked to bat first.
He received strong support from Rutherford as the pair added an unbeaten 91 runs for the fourth wicket, the second-highest partnership for that wicket for West Indies in T20Is. The duo had set the record with a 120-run stand in the previous match in Ranchi. West Indies made a blistering start, racing to 79/1 in the powerplay, their highest powerplay total against India in the format. Jewel Andrew scored a brisk 21 off 16 balls, while Hope kept the scoreboard moving as the visitors reached 118/2 at the halfway stage. Hope, meanwhile, brought up his half-century off 28 balls before accelerating further in the closing overs. He struck two sixes off the final two deliveries to finish unbeaten on 102, taking West Indies to 247/3 — their second-highest T20I total against India, behind the 252/4 they scored in Ranchi earlier in the series. India began the chase aggressively, with Sanju Samson racing to a half-century off just 20 balls.
Hope continued his prolific run on the tour, registering his second century of the series and his third in T20 Internationals. However, Paul changed the complexion of the contest by striking with his first delivery, dismissing the dangerous Samson at deep backward square-leg before removing Ishan Kishan in the same over.
