Hope century powers West Indies to record T20 chase

Shai Hope delivered one of the most remarkable chases in T20 international history, scoring an unbeaten century as West Indies overhauled a mammoth target of 250 to defeat India by six wickets in Ranchi on Friday. The result not only levelled the five-match series at 1-1, it also underlined just how quickly a game can flip when one partnership catches fire.

A chase that changed everything

West Indies were in trouble almost immediately. Mayank Yadav struck with successive deliveries in the opening over, removing Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer, while Rovman Powell also fell early as India applied pressure from the start. At 5 for 2, the visitors looked buried under the weight of the target.

But Hope refused to let the chase slip away. Speaking after the match, he said, “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.” That belief soon became reality as he and Sherfane Rutherford rebuilt the innings with authority.

Hope and Rutherford flip the script

The defining phase of the innings came through a stunning 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rutherford initially survived a let-off on 38 when Yadav spilled a straightforward chance, and he made India pay heavily. The left-hander hammered 84 off just 37 balls, bringing raw power and momentum back into the contest.

Hope, meanwhile, played the perfect anchor. He remained calm, rotated strike smartly, and kept the required rate within reach while Rutherford attacked. Together, they turned a chase that had looked impossible into something fiercely realistic. By the time Rutherford departed to Kuldeep Yadav, West Indies had already seized control.

The key partnership in numbers

India’s big total still not enough

Earlier, India looked in line for a commanding total after Sanju Samson’s explosive 41-ball 82 set the tone. Abhishek Sharma helped fire the hosts to 42 in fewer than four overs, giving India early momentum that seemed likely to snowball into a match-winning score.

West Indies fought back through the middle overs, with Chase leading the effort by removing Sharma and later dismissing Ishan Kishan and Shivam Dube. Shamar Springer also claimed a major breakthrough by accounting for Samson, slowing India’s charge at a crucial stage.

Even so, India found late acceleration. Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma added 83 runs from just 32 balls, helping the hosts finish on 249 for 5. Iyer made 40 before falling off the penultimate delivery, leaving India with what appeared to be a towering total.

Why Hope’s knock stood out

The chase became historic not just because of the target, but because of the composure displayed under pressure. Hope finished unbeaten on 102 from 45 deliveries, while Romario Shepherd provided the finishing support to get West Indies home with nine balls remaining. It was a statement innings in the clearest possible terms.

“When we got that partnership there, we just got some more impetus in the innings,” Hope said. “Then obviously Sherfane came and did what he did, played really well with the bat, and just gave us that spark that we needed to get over the line today.”

That spark lit up the second T20 and produced the second-highest successful chase in men’s T20 international history, behind only South Africa’s pursuit of 259 against West Indies in 2023. For a team that had been 5 for 2, it was a breathtaking response.

What comes next

The series now heads to Indore for the third T20 on Sunday, with both teams suddenly carrying very different emotions into the next contest. India will want to reset quickly after letting a huge total go to waste, while West Indies will arrive with belief, momentum, and a captain in the form of his life.

For now, though, this night belongs to Hope. His century did more than win a match; it rewrote the script of a chase that looked impossible and reminded everyone that in T20 cricket, no total is ever safe.