Shai Hope struck an unbeaten 102 off 45 deliveries on Friday, firing the West Indies to their highest successful Twenty20 international run chase by overhauling a target of 250 to beat India by six wickets in Ranchi. The victory levels the five-match series at 1-1 ahead of Sunday’s fixture in Indore.
Fantasy & Market Impact
Ranchi Run Fest Produces Historic Chase
The fixture delivered a staggering aggregate of 501 runs, marking the second-highest successful run chase in men’s T20 international history. The record remains South Africa’s pursuit of 259 against the West Indies in 2023. Opting to bowl first after bringing in left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, the visitors initially found themselves under pressure as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma launched a rapid 42-run opening stand in less than four overs.
Samson anchored the hosts’ innings with an 82 off 41 balls, supported by Ishan Kishan’s quickfire 43. Roston Chase checked the acceleration by removing Sharma, Kishan, and Shivam Dube, finishing with 3-24 from his four overs. However, late fireworks from Shreyas Iyer (40) and Tilak Varma (44 not out) propelled India to a total of 249-5.
| Match Metric | West Indies | India |
|---|---|---|
| Total Score | 252-4 (18.3 overs) | 249-5 (20 overs) |
| Powerplay Score | Struggling early (5-2) | 79-1 |
| Top Scorer | Shai Hope (102*) | Sanju Samson (82) |
| Key Partnership | 120 runs (Hope & Rutherford) | 97 runs (Kishan & Samson) |
Hope and Rutherford Turn the Tide
The West Indies chase suffered a start when Mayank Yadav removed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer with successive deliveries in the opening over, before dismissing Rovman Powell to leave the tourists reeling at 5-2. “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,” Hope stated, acknowledging the early trouble.
Hope and Rutherford rescued the innings with a 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rutherford capitalized on a dropped chance by Yadav at short fine leg, hammering seven sixes and seven fours in his 84-run blitz. Though Kuldeep Yadav eventually removed Rutherford in the 15th over, Romario Shepherd entered to strike an unbeaten 34 off 13 balls, sealing the six-wicket win with nine balls to spare.
“When we got that partnership there, we just got some more impetus in the innings,” Hope explained, highlighting the tactical shift that allowed the visitors to break India’s bowling rhythm. The teams now travel to Indore for the third T20 international on Sunday.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
