West Indies beat India as Hope’s century seals historic T20I chase

West Indies beat India by six wickets in the second T20 international in Ranchi on Friday, 9 October, chasing a target of 250 to level the five-match series at 1-1. Captain Shai Hope made an unbeaten 102 from 45 balls as West Indies reached 252 for four in 18.3 overs, with nine balls remaining.

The size of the chase gives the result significance beyond the series score. The International Cricket Council calls it West Indies’ highest successful chase in T20 internationals and the second-highest successful chase in men’s T20I history. South Africa’s 259 for four against West Indies at Centurion in 2023 remains higher, according to the ICC.

How Hope and Rutherford rebuilt the chase

West Indies lost two wickets in the opening over, when Mayank Yadav dismissed Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer on consecutive deliveries. Three wickets had fallen in the first six overs. That start left Hope carrying the innings while the target still demanded a high scoring rate.

Rovman Powell made 24 from 13 balls before Mayank dismissed him. Sherfane Rutherford then joined Hope, and the pair added 120 runs from 54 balls. Rutherford scored 84 from 37 deliveries before Kuldeep Yadav removed him in the 15th over. Their stand turned an uncertain chase into a realistic one without finishing the job by itself.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir pointed to his side’s inability to contain the chase after its early wickets. ‘We need to find a way to try and stop the opposition,’ he said in comments reported by the ICC. Gambhir also credited Hope and Rutherford’s batting and called them ‘world-class batters’ in the format.

How India set a target of 250

India had made 249 for five from its 20 overs after being put in to bat. Sanju Samson top-scored with 82 from 41 balls, while Ishan Kishan contributed 43 from 22. The ICC described favourable batting conditions and dew setting in early in its account of the match; those observations are its description of the conditions, rather than a measured explanation for the result.

Roston Chase took three wickets for West Indies, and the ICC credited Shamar Springer with two. India nevertheless scored heavily at the close. Shreyas Iyer made 40 from 18 balls and Tilak Varma 44 from 18, putting on 83 together from 33 deliveries, according to the ICC. Their stand took India close to 250 and gave West Indies a demanding target.

The innings left West Indies needing more than 12 runs an over from the start. Losing wickets in the first over made that task harder, but Hope’s century, Rutherford’s rapid 84 and Shepherd’s finish carried the visitors past India’s total with nine deliveries unused. Cricket West Indies’ results record the final scores as India 249 for five and West Indies 252 for four.

What the result changes in the series

The victory erased India’s lead from the opening T20I. Cricket West Indies records India winning that match in Lucknow on 6 October by eight wickets, with 32 balls remaining. The Ranchi result makes the series 1-1 after two matches; it does not decide the series.

The third T20I is scheduled for Sunday, 11 October, in Indore, according to the ICC and News On AIR. News On AIR reported a scheduled 7 p.m. start. The cited results establish the completed matches and the next fixture, but they do not establish any later series outcome or effect on team selection.