Shai Hope hit a century as West Indies completed their most successful chase in T20 internationals, overhauling a target of 250 to beat India by six wickets in Ranchi and level the five-match series at 1-1.
The visitors were also recording the second-highest successful run in men’s T20 international history, surpassed only by South Africa’s chase of 259 against the West Indies in 2023.
Chasing the daunting target, West Indies were rattled early when paceman Mayank Yadav removed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer with successive deliveries in the opening over before dismissing Rovman Powell for 24.
“When you’re chasing here in India, you always give yourself a chance. You always think you’re in the game, no matter what the score is on the board,” Hope said.
“But five for two was always going to be challenging.”
Skipper Hope and Sherfane Rutherford turned the match around with a remarkable 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Rutherford survived for 38 when Yadav bowled a direct chance at fine short leg and capitalized at the break, hitting 84 off 37 balls before falling to Kuldeep Yadav.
Hope was undeterred, anchoring the chase while maintaining the required rate and combined with Romario Shepherd to guide the West Indies home with nine balls to spare. Hope remained unbeaten on 102 off 45 deliveries.
“When we got that partnership there, we just got another boost in the ranks,” Hope said.
“Then obviously Sherfane came on 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.”
Earlier, Sanju Samson’s 41-ball 82 supported India’s total as he and Abhishek Sharma raced to 42 in less than four overs for the opening wicket.
Roston Chase halted the early surge by dismissing Sharma and later removed Ishan Kishan for 43 and Shivam Dube while Shamar Springer struck with the key wicket of Samson.
India surged back late on through Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma, who put on 83 runs from 32 balls, with Iyer making 40 before falling on the penultimate delivery as the hosts finished on 249-5.
The teams meet again in the third T20 in Indore on Sunday.
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