Hope, Paul power West Indies to level T20I series against India
The Windies captain scored his third T20I hundred before Keemo Paul delivered a match-winning spell as the visitors set up an exciting series decider in India.
A captivating batting display led by skipper Shai Hope guided West Indies to an impressive win to level the five-match T20I series 2-2, setting up an epic conclusion in Bengaluru.
Having been put in to bat first, the visitors got off to a quick start at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Both the openers, Hope and Jewel Andrew (21), added 52 runs off just 26 deliveries. Axar Patel then removed Andrew, but the dismissal didn't shift the momentum in India's favour.
Hope continued to score at a brisk rate, bringing up his half-century off 28 deliveries, with the West Indies having added 118 runs at the loss of two wickets halfway through their innings.
Shimron Hetmyer (33) and Rovman Powell (24) delivered handy contributions with the bat before Sherfane Rutherford (49) upped the ante alongside Hope.
The duo stitched together an unbeaten 91-run stand for the fourth-wicket stand. Rutherford was able to find four boundaries and three maximums through his innings.
Meanwhile, Hope continued his dream run with the bat, reaching his second hundred in the ongoing T20I series - his fourth overall on the tour (two more in ODIs) - as the West Indies finished their innings at 247/3.
Batting at 90 with just two balls remaining in their quota of 20 overs, Hope smacked consecutive sixes to complete his ton.
India got off to a strong start, putting together 60 runs in the first four overs. Opener Sanju Samson led the charge with a quickfire 56 off 23 deliveries.
However, Keemo Paul found a way back into the game for the Windies, removing both Samson and Ishan Kishan (6) in the fifth over.
Gudakesh Motie also stepped up to ensure India were unable to construct a vital partnership in the middle order, nabbing the wickets of Abhishek Sharma (29) and Naman Dhir (0) in consecutive deliveries.
The onus then fell on Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy to shoulder India to a win.
However, Paul went on to snap three more wickets, making it a second career T20I five-wicket haul as the visitors held their nerve to see out a win and keep the series alive.
Series schedule
First T20I: 6 October, Lucknow, (India won by eight wickets)
Second T20I: 9 October, Ranchi (West Indies won by six wickets)
Third T20I: 11 October, Indore (India won by 14 runs)
Fourth T20I: 14 October, Hyderabad (West Indies won by 24 runs)
Fifth T20I: 17 October, Bengaluru