Hope’s historic hundred, Paul’s five-wicket haul stun India

Shai Hope and Keemo Paul delivered match-winning performances with bat and ball Wednesday to propel West Indies to a commanding 24-run victory over India in the fourth T20 International, forcing the series into a decisive fifth match in Bengaluru.

Captain Hope hammered an unbeaten 102 to lead the Caribbean side to an imposing 247 for three, while Paul claimed five wickets for 41 runs as India, despite a late surge, finished on 223.

Gudakesh Motie provided crucial support with a restrictive spell of two for 13, helping West Indies defend a total against India on Indian soil for the first time in T20Is after six previous unsuccessful attempts.

Hope's century was his fourth of the tour and his third in T20 internationals, making him the first West Indies player to reach three hundreds in the format.

Hope leads an explosive batting assault

Sent in to bat on the newly laid Hyderabad surface, West Indies immediately took the attack to an unchanged Indian lineup.

Hope found an aggressive partner in teenage opener Jewel Andrew, who announced himself with a clean six off the second ball he faced from Arshdeep Singh. A 17-run over gave the visitors early momentum, and they continued to punish anything loose.

Mayank Yadav attempted to unsettle the openers with his pace but occasionally struggled to control his deliveries, including a bouncer that sailed over Sanju Samson's head.

With the outfield proving patchy, West Indies relied heavily on clearing the boundary and raced to 79 for one in the Powerplay, their highest score in the first six overs of a T20I against India.

Axar Patel eventually broke the opening partnership during the Powerplay, removing Andrew for 21. However, Shimron Hetmyer immediately resumed the assault, targeting Arshdeep's deliveries in the slot.

India's Naman Dhir, who had enjoyed success earlier in the series, proved an expensive option against Hope, conceding 19 runs in his only over.

Hetmyer added further momentum before Prince Yadav surprised him with a cleverly executed bouncer, ending his innings at 33.

Powell and Rutherford Keep India Under Pressure

The wickets did little to disrupt West Indies' scoring rate.

Rovman Powell seized on Axar's next over, helping himself to a 22-run haul as the visitors maintained their assault on the Indian bowling attack.

By the time Sherfane Rutherford arrived at the crease, Hope was already approaching a commanding individual score. The captain continued to find the boundary, while Rutherford attacked Mayank during the fast bowler's final spell, taking 22 runs from the over.

West Indies surged beyond 200, setting themselves up for a potentially match-defining total.

India's fielding offered further assistance. Mayank failed to complete a catch offered by Rutherford, while Tilak Varma lost sight of a straight hit on the final delivery of the innings.

Hope capitalized on the reprieves to complete his century, finishing unbeaten on 102 from 54 balls, with four fours and nine sixes.

The captain's landmark innings gave West Indies a formidable 247 for three and left India facing a demanding chase.

Paul strikes immediately as India lose their way

India began their reply aggressively, with Samson taking the attack to Roston Chase. The wicketkeeper-batter launched a straight hit over Chase's head and dominated much of the early scoring as Abhishek Sharma struggled to get on strike.

Chase conceded 25 runs in his second over, and India raced to 50 without loss by the end of the third over.

However, West Indies adapted more effectively as the innings progressed. With the surface dry and no dew to complicate the bowling conditions, the Caribbean seamers varied their pace and used short deliveries to disrupt India's momentum.

Paul made an immediate impact with his first delivery, dismissing Samson for 56 after the batter picked out a fielder in the deep.

Just three balls later, Ishan Kishan fell while attempting another big hit, leaving India suddenly under pressure.

Abhishek, who had struggled for opportunities during the opening exchanges, managed only 29 from 24 deliveries. Shreyas Iyer contributed 16 from 11 balls before Motie struck to remove Dhir for a first-ball duck.

India's middle order was unable to maintain the scoring rate established by Samson. The hosts managed just 32 runs from 31 deliveries against the short ball, highlighting the difference between the two teams' handling of the tactic.

Varma and Reddy threaten a fightback

Tilak and Nitish Reddy briefly revived India's hopes with a rapid partnership that threatened to shift the contest.

The pair adjusted to the West Indies bowlers' approach, combining for a 70-run stand in just 5.2 overs. Tilak scored 43, while Reddy added 41, giving the hosts a renewed chance of mounting an unlikely comeback.

But the recovery proved short-lived.

Both batters departed as West Indies regained control, exposing the lower order to an increasingly difficult task. Paul then took charge of the closing stages, claiming the final three wickets to complete his five-wicket haul and seal the victory.

His figures of five for 41 represented the decisive contribution in a successful defense of West Indies' imposing total, while Motie's two for 13 helped choke India's scoring during a crucial phase.

Bengaluru awaits as Windies chase series triumph

The 24-run victory gives West Indies fresh momentum heading into the fifth and final T20I in Bengaluru, with the series now poised for a winner-take-all showdown.

Hope's historic century provided the foundation, but Paul's devastating spell ensured the captain's effort was not wasted.

The result also marked a breakthrough for West Indies: their first T20I victory in India while defending a total, ending a run of six failed attempts.

After an explosive batting display and a disciplined response with the ball, the Caribbean side now have the opportunity to turn their comeback in the fourth match into a memorable series triumph.