Shai Hope’s undefeated 102 off 45 balls in the second Twenty20 International in Ranchi was instrumental in the West Indies’ most successful run chase in Twenty20 International cricket, surpassing India’s 249-5 total with nine balls remaining. The result resulted in a 1-1 tie in the five-match series.
Shai Hope century, which was the second-fastest T20I century by a West Indies player, surpassed Chris Gayle’s 47-ball century in the record books. Johnson Charles is the sole player to surpass the previous record for the Windies in a T20I century, as he achieved three figures in 39 balls. The fastest century by any player against India in Twenty20 Internationals was also tied by Hope’s knock with England’s Jacob Bethell, who had struck a 45-ball century in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The West Indies were in early trouble at 58-3 when Shai Hope and Shimron Rutherford put on a 120-run fourth-wicket stand that turned the game around. Shai Hope’s ninth six of the innings, which preceded his century, enabled West Indies to cross the finish line with one over remaining.
How was it possible for the West Indies to breach the record?
The West Indies were reduced to 58-3 in their pursuit of 250 after Indian fast Mayank Yadav claimed two consecutive wickets in the first over, including Shimron Hetmyer for a first-ball duck. Furthermore, Yadav placed the visitors in a difficult position by bowling Rovman Powell for 24 with a delivery that clocked in at 150 km/h (93 mph).
Rutherford, who is left-handed, and Shai Hope subsequently launched a forceful counterattack. In a 37-ball blitz of 84 runs, Rutherford reached his fifty off 24 deliveries and struck seven fours and seven sixes before falling to left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. After Rutherford was dismissed, Hope and Romario Shepherd formed an undefeated partnership of 74, with Shepherd contributing 34. This partnership was instrumental in the West Indies’ victory.
This most successful T20I chase surpassed the West Indies’ previous mark of 231 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2015. In 2023, South Africa achieved the most successful run chase in men’s Twenty20 cricket by scoring 259-4 against the West Indies at Centurion. They currently hold this record.
Rutherford asserts that Shai Hope is a “phenomenal player” who serves as an inspiration to him.
What was the nature of India’s innings, and what is the forthcoming course of action?
India scored 249-5 when they were invited to bat first, with Sanju Samson scoring 82 off 41 deliveries. Samson and Ishan Kishan, who scored 43, contributed 97 runs for the second wicket after opener Abhishek Sharma departed for 20. Then, in an effort to impede India’s momentum, spinner Roston Chase struck three times and bowled Shivam Dube and Kishan.
Pace bowler Shamar Springer removed Samson; however, captain Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma responded with 83 runs off 33 balls for the fifth wicket. While Iyer was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the innings after a rapid 40 off 18 balls, Varma concluded undefeated at 44.
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Shimron Hetmyer was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Mayank Yadav, an Indian speedster, who claimed two consecutive wickets in the first over. Yadav also dismissed Rovman Powell for 24 with a delivery that reached 150 km/h (93 mph), but Hope and Rutherford contributed to the West Indies’ victory. Sanju Samson had previously scored 82 off 41 balls before captain Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma led India to a commanding total after being asked to bat first. The third game of the five-game series is scheduled for Sunday in Indore, and the series is currently deadlocked at 1-1.
