Windies overhaul India’s 249 in record-breaking Ranchi run fest
Key Points(5)
- Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford unleashed a breathtaking assault to propel West Indies to the highest successful run chase in their men’s T20 International history, overpowering India’s 249-5 with six wickets and two balls to spare on Friday to level the five-match series at 1-1.
- Hope smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 45 deliveries, while Rutherford blazed his way to 84 from 37 balls as the Caribbean side finished on 250-4, completing the second-highest successful chase in men’s T20I cricket.
- On a dew-soaked surface that increasingly favored the batters, the West Indies duo transformed a daunting target into a spectacular display of power hitting, overturning India’s imposing total with remarkable authority.
- The match produced 501 runs, the second-highest aggregate in men’s T20Is.
- West Indies struck 20 sixes to India’s 13, with Hope alone clearing the boundary nine times, as the visitors turned what appeared to be a formidable Indian victory into a landmark triumph.
Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford unleashed a breathtaking assault to propel West Indies to the highest successful run chase in their men’s T20 International history, overpowering India’s 249-5 with six wickets and two balls to spare on Friday to level the five-match series at 1-1.
Hope smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 45 deliveries, while Rutherford blazed his way to 84 from 37 balls as the Caribbean side finished on 250-4, completing the second-highest successful chase in men’s T20I cricket.
On a dew-soaked surface that increasingly favored the batters, the West Indies duo transformed a daunting target into a spectacular display of power hitting, overturning India’s imposing total with remarkable authority.
The match produced 501 runs, the second-highest aggregate in men’s T20Is. West Indies struck 20 sixes to India’s 13, with Hope alone clearing the boundary nine times, as the visitors turned what appeared to be a formidable Indian victory into a landmark triumph.
Samson leads India’s explosive start
India’s innings had threatened to overwhelm West Indies after Hope won the toss and elected to field, only for the visitors to undermine their own efforts with costly lapses in the field.
Sanju Samson, under pressure following a lean stretch, received an early reprieve when Kamil Pooran dropped him at cover on six. The batter immediately made West Indies pay, launching Akeal Hosein’s free hit over long-on before attacking the left-arm spinner for two sixes and two fours in a 22-run over.
Another opportunity went begging when Samson was dropped at mid-off on 42. He responded by reaching his half-century from 21 balls, equaling the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian against West Indies.
At the other end, Ishan Kishan delighted his home crowd with 43 from 22 deliveries. Their partnership yielded 97 runs from just 43 balls, lifting India to 127-1 at the halfway stage and placing the hosts firmly in control.
Roston Chase briefly restored West Indies’ hopes with a superb spell, claiming 3-24. He removed Abhishek Sharma, bowled Kishan with a delivery that stayed low, and forced Shivam Dube to drag the ball onto his stumps.
India managed only 42 runs for three wickets between overs 11 and 15, as West Indies tightened their grip. Samson, however, had already done substantial damage before falling for 82, upper-cutting a slower delivery from Shamar Springer straight to third man.
Iyer and Tilak deliver a late assault
India recovered emphatically in the closing overs through Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma, who combined for an explosive finish that restored the innings’ momentum.
Iyer, coming off his maiden T20I century, struck 40 from 18 balls, while Tilak remained unbeaten on 44 from just 18 deliveries.
Together, they plundered 80 runs in the final five overs, taking advantage of wayward bowling that included wides and full tosses. West Indies’ slow over-rate also left them with only four fielders outside the circle for the final over.
Tilak seized the opportunity immediately, launching Springer’s first three deliveries of the 20th over for sixes to propel India to 249-5.
It was a total that would ordinarily have put the hosts in a commanding position. Instead, the combination of heavy dew, expensive spin bowling and an extraordinary West Indies response proved decisive.
Axar Patel conceded 63 runs in 3.3 overs, while Kuldeep Yadav surrendered 53 from his four overs as India’s attack struggled to contain the visitors.
Mayank strikes twice, but Hope changes the contest
India began their defense in spectacular fashion, with Mayank Yadav removing Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer in the opening over.
Pooran top-edged a pull shot before Hetmyer was bowled first ball by a 144-kph delivery that jagged back to hit middle stump. Suddenly, West Indies were under immediate pressure in their pursuit of 250.
Hope responded with an emphatic counterattack, taking Axar for two sixes and a four in the fourth over. Rovman Powell then contributed 24 from 13 balls before Mayank knocked over his off stump.
Rutherford arrived with no intention of allowing India to settle, striking three of his first four deliveries to the boundary. By the end of the Powerplay, West Indies had surged to 72-3, matching the required scoring rate despite their early losses.
Hope, who had followed consecutive ODI centuries with a half-century in the first T20I, reached another fifty from just 24 balls. His innings combined calculated placement with devastating power, keeping the chase within reach as Rutherford attacked from the opposite end.
Rutherford and Hope turn the tide
Rutherford’s innings was marked by fearless stroke play and a remarkable ability to clear the boundary. He was given a reprieve on 39 when Mayank dropped him at short fine leg, and the left-hander made India pay with a succession of powerful blows.
The visitors targeted the spin options with particular success. Axar’s 12th over cost 23 runs, followed by 18 from Naman Dhir’s next over, as the required rate began to fall sharply.
Rutherford brought up his fifty from 24 deliveries, recording his third consecutive T20I score above 50. His partnership with Hope yielded 120 runs from only 54 balls, shifting the pressure decisively onto India.
When Kuldeep finally found Rutherford’s edge in the 15th over, the West Indies batter departed after scoring 84 from 37 deliveries. The equation stood at 72 required from 35 balls, leaving India with a potential opening to regain control.
But the hosts could not exploit it.
Shepherd joins the party as West Indies seal history
Romario Shepherd, who had limped off while bowling in the first innings, returned to the middle and immediately helped extinguish India’s hopes.
Kuldeep’s 17th over disappeared for 24 runs, with Hope clearing long-off twice before Shepherd dropped to one knee and launched another six over midwicket.
Arshdeep Singh then conceded 17 in the 18th over, leaving India with little room to recover as West Indies closed in on a historic victory.
With 10 runs required from the final 12 deliveries, Hope took responsibility for the finish. Facing Axar, he slog-swept a six to move to 96 before lofting another delivery over long-off to complete his magnificent century and seal the win.
West Indies reached 250-4, completing a chase that will stand as one of the defining performances in their T20I history.
India had posted a formidable total through Samson’s 82 and the late fireworks from Iyer and Tilak. But Hope and Rutherford produced an even more devastating response, combining precision, power and fearless intent to leave the hosts with a sobering lesson: no total was beyond reach on a night when West Indies found their rhythm.
The series is now level at 1-1, with the Caribbean side carrying renewed momentum after a victory built on record-breaking batting and a spectacular display of six-hitting.
