West Indies level T20I series as Hope century and Paul five-for sink India in Hyderabad

Rare defence sends series to a decider

At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, the West Indies did something they had not managed on this tour — or in recent memory against this opposition. Defending a total, they beat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I, drawing the five-match series level at 2-2 and forcing a winner-takes-all decider in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Set 248 to win, India were bowled out for 223 for 9 in 19.3 overs, their chase undone by a combination of early wickets, a stagnant middle and a ruthless death-overs squeeze from the visitors' bowlers.

Hope's late fireworks set up the contest

Asked to bat first, the West Indies rode on another Shai Hope masterclass. The captain smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 50 deliveries — completing his hundred with a six off the final ball — to anchor a daunting 247 for 3 in their 20 overs. It was his fourth century of the tour, his second of the series and his third in T20 internationals.

Hope was, in the words of the match report, “ruthless to anything too full and hittable, accessing the 'V' like he always does, and using his wrists and timing to hoick balls on the leg-side.” Jewel Andrew, back from injury, kickstarted the boundary fest with a clean six off Arshdeep Singh's second ball, and Sherfane Rutherford provided late impetus with an unbeaten 49 off 26, the pair adding 91 in 43 balls to power the tourists past 200. The West Indies struck 16 sixes and were handed 18 extras as India's bowlers — Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh conceding 52 each — struggled to contain them, while missed chances in the field also hurt the hosts.

Samson's blitz, then the collapse

India's chase began at breakneck speed. “Sanju Samson gave India a fast start with 56 off 23 balls, but Keemo Paul struck twice in the fifth over to dismiss Samson and Ishan Kishan, denting the chase,” the report said. Abhishek Sharma, starved of strike, scratched his way to 29 off 24, while Shreyas Iyer (16 off 11) fell soon after.

Gudakesh Motie then removed Abhishek Sharma and Naman Dhir (0 off 1) in the 12th over to leave India at 130 for 5. Unlike the West Indies, India's batters could not capitalise on the short balls, managing just 32 off 31 deliveries at that length as the seamers applied themselves on a dry surface with no dew.

Paul and Motie choke the middle, Tilak-Reddy fightback falls short

Keemo Paul was the destroyer-in-chief, taking five for 41 in his four overs, while Motie's restrictive spell yielded 2 for 13. Tilak Varma (43 off 25) and Nitish Reddy (41 off 20) added 70 for the sixth wicket to haul India back into contention, but both fell in the death overs — Tilak in the 17th, Reddy in the 19th — leaving too much for the tail.

“This was the first time West Indies defeated India in India while defending a total in T20Is, after six failed attempts,” the report noted. Both Shreyas Iyer and Shai Hope later observed that the pitch held up a bit and offered the odd variable bounce — a factor that helped the West Indies' seamers change pace and keep India's assault in check.

Brief scores

West Indies 247/3 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 102*, Sherfane Rutherford 49*; Prince Yadav 1-36, Axar Patel 1-45) beat India 223/9 in 19.3 overs (Sanju Samson 56, Tilak Varma 43; Keemo Paul 5-41, Gudakesh Motie 2-13) by 24 runs.