Photo via Wisden

Shai Hope: The future of Caribbean cricket, Test return & why West Indies need to play in World Cups

Shai Hope delivered an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls to steer West Indies to a historic chase of 250 runs, the highest successful target in T20I cricket, clinching the second match of the five‑match series in Ranchi and leveling the series at 1‑1. India had posted 249/5 in the first innings, with Sanju Samson contributing 82, Shreyas Iyer a rapid 40 off 18 balls, Tilak Varma an unbeaten 44 off 18 balls, Ishan Kishan 43 off 22 balls and a 97‑run partnership off 43 balls, with Samson’s 21‑ball half‑century and Kishan’s contribution.

Mayank Yadav opened the chase with two wickets in the first over, reducing West Indies to 58‑3, but Hope and Sherfane Rutherford rebuilt the innings with a 120‑run fourth‑wicket stand that shifted the momentum. Rutherford’s blitz of 84 off 37 balls, featuring seven fours and seven sixes, included a fifty reached in 24 balls before he fell to Kuldeep Yadav.

Hope then partnered with Romario Shepherd, adding an unbeaten 74 for the sixth wicket as Shepherd made 34, and sealed the chase by lofting Axar Patel for a six that brought his century to the books as the second‑fastest T20I hundred by a West Indies player, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 47‑ball record. Roston Chase contributed two wickets in successive overs during the middle overs for West Indies, while Mayank Yadav’s 150 km/h delivery dismissed Rovman Powell for 24.

After the match Hope reflected, “When you chase here in India, you always give yourself a chance. You always think you’re in the game, regardless of what score is on the board.

But (from) 5‑2 was always going to be challenging.” Rutherford praised Hope as a “phenomenal player” and an inspiration. The win marks a milestone for West Indies cricket, showcasing Hope’s resurgence in the white‑ball format and his ability to deliver under pressure, while also highlighting the contributions of Rutherford, Shepherd and the supporting bowlers in a tightly contested encounter.

This report also draws on coverage from The Times of India, CricketAddictor, ESPN Cricinfo, CricTracker.

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