Ranchi: Shai Hope anchored an extraordinary batting performance with an unbeaten 102 from 45 deliveries, while Sherfane Rutherford hammered 84 off 37 balls to guide the West Indies to a stunning six-wicket victory over India in the second T20I. Facing a daunting target of 250 on a dew-laden night, the tourists pulled off their highest-ever successful run chase in the format with nine balls to spare, following an onslaught that featured 21 fours and 20 sixes.
India had earlier posted a formidable 249 for five after being put into bat, powered by a blistering 82 off 41 balls from Sanju Samson and an early 43 from 22 deliveries by Ishan Kishan. Late-innings fireworks from Shreyas Iyer, who scored 40 from 18 balls, and Tilak Varma, who contributed 44 from the same number of deliveries in an 83-run partnership, pushed India to a seemingly impregnable total. Mayank Yadav threatened to derail the West Indies response immediately, picking up three quick wickets in the powerplay to dismiss Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, and Rovman Powell.
However, Hope absorbed the pressure through measured shot-making before accelerating to reach his second T20I half-century in 24 balls. He found an aggressive partner in Rutherford, who dismantled the Indian spin attack with clean power, hitting seven fours and seven sixes. The duo combined for a crucial 120-run partnership that shifted the momentum entirely back to the visiting side.
Even after Rutherford fell to Kuldeep Yadav in the 15th phase of the innings, Romario Shepherd maintained the onslaught with a quickfire 34 not out from 13 balls, which included taking 24 runs off a single over from Kuldeep. Hope calmly sealed the historic victory in the 19th over, bringing up his century and securing the result with a maximum off Axar Patel.