West Indies Chase 250, Level T20 Series With Record-Breaking Victory

West Indies completed the second-highest successful chase in men's T20 International history on Friday in Ranchi, reaching 252-4 to beat India by six wickets and level their five-match series at 1-1. Captain Shai Hope struck an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford scored 84 off 37 deliveries, as the visitors overhauled India's total of 249-5 in 18.3 overs.

West Indies started poorly, losing Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer to successive deliveries from Mayank Yadav in the opening over, then losing Rovman Powell for 24. Despite the early collapse, Hope refused to yield, scoring 50 off his first 24 balls while maintaining the required run rate. When Rutherford joined Hope for the fourth-wicket partnership, the momentum shifted decisively. The two added 120 runs off 54 balls, with Rutherford particularly aggressive against both pace and spin bowling. Rutherford benefited from a dropped catch by Mayank Yadav at short fine leg when on 38, and capitalised fully on the reprieve before falling to Kuldeep Yadav in the 15th over. Romario Shepherd finished the chase with an unbeaten 34 off 13 balls, including three sixes.

India's batting had set a formidable target. Sanju Samson scored 82 off 41 balls after the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma (20) and Samson raced to 42 in 24 balls. Ishan Kishan contributed 43 off 22 balls before falling to Roston Chase, who finished with 3-24. India's death-overs acceleration came through Shreyas Iyer (40 off 18 balls) and Tilak Varma (44 off 18 balls), who added 83 runs off 32 balls to push India past 249. India's total was their eighth-highest in T20 Internationals and their highest against West Indies.

The victory marked West Indies' highest successful chase in T20 Internationals. Only South Africa's pursuit of 259 against West Indies in March 2023 ranks higher in men's T20I history. Hope's century was his third against India in four innings across T20s and ODIs. The second and third T20s will be played in Indore on 11 October and Hyderabad on 14 October respectively, followed by matches in Bengaluru on 17 October.