West Indies produced an exceptional all-round display in Hyderabad on October 14, defeating India by 24 runs in the fourth T20 International to draw level at 2-2 in the five-match series. The victory marked a historic milestone for the visiting side, breaking a jinx that had seen them fail in six previous attempts. For the very first time in T20 International history, West Indies successfully defended a target against India on Indian soil.
Shai Hope Powers Visitors to a Towering Total
Batting first, West Indies amassed a mammoth total of 247 for 3 in their 20 overs, riding on an unbeaten century from Shai Hope. Anchoring the innings with supreme authority, Shai Hope blasted 102 not out off just 50 deliveries, an innings decorated with nine sixes and four boundaries. Sherfane Rutherford provided explosive support in the death overs, remaining unbeaten on 49 from 26 balls while smashing four boundaries and three sixes. Shimron Hetmyer contributed 33 runs to the cause, helping West Indies set an imposing target of 248 for the hosts.
Keemo Paul Grabs Five Wickets to Stifle the Chase
In response, India launched an aggressive chase led by Sanju Samson, who provided a fiery start by racing to 56 off only 23 deliveries. Tilak Varma kept the momentum going with a solid 43 runs, but the middle order failed to build sustained partnerships around them. West Indies fast bowler Keemo Paul emerged as the wrecker-in-chief, dismantling the Indian lineup by capturing 5 wickets for 41 runs. His spell triggered crucial breakthroughs, ultimately bowling India out for 223 in 19.3 overs to secure the 24-run triumph.
India Registers Their Second-Highest T20I Chase Score in Defeat
Despite falling short of the target, India etched their name into the record books by registering their second-highest total when chasing in T20 Internationals. The 223-run effort fell short of victory, trailing only their record chase score of 244 for 4 against West Indies at Lauderhill in 2016, a match India lost by a single run. With the series finely poised at 2-2, the fifth and final encounter will take place on Saturday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
