Shai Hope’s Blazing 102* and Keemo Paul’s Five-For Propel West Indies to 24-Run Win Over India: Series Level 2–2
Hyderabad, India — The West Indies 🌴 produced a sensational, boundary-laden batting masterclass and kept their series ambitions alive on Wednesday night, overpowering India 🇮🇳 by 24 runs in a breathless 470-run shootout during the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Anchored by a historic, unbeaten 102 from captain Shai Hope and sealed by a career-defining five-wicket haul from seamer Keemo Paul, the Caribbean tourists defended a mammoth 247/3 by bowling out the hosts for 223 with three deliveries to spare.
The result levels the high-scoring five-match bilateral series at 2–2, erasing India’s advantage after Abhishek Sharma previously broke records as India defended 223 in Indore. Building upon our earlier report where the West Indies were off to a flyer racing to 90/1 inside seven overs, Hope and his batting unit sustained that ferocious tempo for all 20 overs, setting up a mouthwatering winner-takes-all series decider in Bengaluru this weekend.
- Match: India vs West Indies, 4th T20I
- Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
- Result: West Indies won by 24 runs (Series level at 2–2)
- Top Performers: Shai Hope (102* off 50), Sherfane Rutherford (49 off 26), Keemo Paul (5/41), Sanju Samson (56 off 23).
Shai Hope Rewrites History Books with Blistering 102* in 247/3 Onslaught
After Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bowl under the Hyderabad floodlights, the pitch offered true, trustworthy bounce and lightning-fast outfield conditions. West Indies showed zero hesitation in attacking from the very first over, putting India’s frontline pace attack under immediate duress.
Following brisk early contributions from Brandon King and Shimron Hetmyer, captain Shai Hope took complete control of the contest. Blending pristine orthodox strokeplay with immense power down the ground, the classy right-hander dismantled India’s spin and seam options with ruthless efficiency:
- Outright West Indies Record: Reaching his century off just 49 deliveries, Hope registered his third career T20I hundred. This moved him past Caribbean legends Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, and Rovman Powell (two centuries each) to make Hope the outright record-holder for the most centuries by a West Indian batter in men’s T20 international history.
- Boundary Barrage: Hope’s majestic 102 not out featured nine towering sixes and four crisply struck boundaries, scoring at an astonishing strike rate of 204.00.
- Death-Overs Mayhem: Left-handed dynamo Sherfane Rutherford provided explosive support from the opposite end, hammering an unbeaten 49 off just 26 balls (including four sixes) in an unbroken 114-run partnership that plundered 74 runs from the final five overs.
The relentless assault propelled the West Indies to an imposing 247/3, setting India an intimidating target of 248 at a required run rate of 12.4 per over from ball one.
Samson Counter-Attacks Before Keemo Paul’s Five-For Stalls the Chase
Confronting an uphill mountain, India approached the run chase with fearless aggression. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson took charge of the powerplay assault, peppering the backward point boundary and lofting consecutive sixes over extra cover. Samson raced to an electric half-century, smashing 56 off just 23 deliveries to ensure India were tracking ahead of the required rate at 84/1 after the initial six-over phase.
However, the complexion of the contest changed drastically following the tactical introduction of Guyanese seamer Keemo Paul. Exploiting subtle variations in pace, deceptive cross-seam off-cutters, and pin-point wide yorkers, Paul single-handedly arrested India’s charge:
- Crucial Breakthroughs: Paul broke the ominous opening partnership by claiming set batters before using clever slower bouncers to induce mistimed pulls against India’s dangerous middle-order power hitters.
- Career-Best Figures: Paul picked up wickets in three consecutive spells, finishing with magnificent match-winning figures of 5/41 in 3.3 overs. His clinical execution snuffed out lower-order resistance from Rinku Singh and Axar Patel.
- Coincidental Symmetry: Paul wrapped up the Indian innings by removing the final batter with three balls to spare, bowling India out for 223 in 19.3 overs—coincidentally matching the exact 223 total India posted during their third T20I triumph in Indore.
Official Match Summary: 4th T20I Scorecard
The complete official scorecard and bowling figures from the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium highlight a titanic battle where 470 runs were scored across 39.3 overs of high-octane cricket:
| Innings | Team | Score | Overs | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Innings | West Indies 🌴 | 247/3 | 20.0 | Shai Hope 102 (50), Sherfane Rutherford 49 (26); Axar Patel 1/38 (4.0) |
| 2nd Innings | India 🇮🇳 | 223 all out | 19.3 | Sanju Samson 56 (23), Suryakumar Yadav 38 (19); Keemo Paul 5/41 (3.3) |
| Match Result | West Indies won by 24 runs (Series level at 2–2) | |||
| Player of the Match | Shai Hope (West Indies) — 102* (50b, 4×4, 9×6) | |||
Series Decider Set for Bengaluru on Saturday
With momentum swinging back and forth across four thrilling encounters, the five-match series concludes with a high-stakes finale on Saturday, October 17 at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Known for its short square boundaries, true batting surfaces, and thin air, Bengaluru promises to deliver another monumental test for both bowling attacks.
For the West Indies, winning in Hyderabad proves their explosive top order can dictate terms against world-class attacks when executing with clarity. For India, tightening execution during the death overs and addressing middle-overs collapses will be top priorities for head coach Gautam Gambhir as the team eyes a series-clinching performance on home soil.
Stay tuned to our dedicated cricket news hub for comprehensive series previews, pitch reports, and ball-by-ball analysis.
Upcoming Match Schedule & Broadcast Details
The fifth and final T20I will be broadcast across major sports networks. Match times are formatted in localized Nepal Time (NPT):
- 5th T20I (Series Decider): Saturday, October 17 — Match starts at Tonight · 7:15 PM NPT (7:00 PM IST) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
- Television Broadcast: Sports18 1 SD/HD and Sports18 Khel across India and Nepal.
- Live Streaming: Live and free on JioCinema (India) and available via regional digital sports platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the India vs West Indies 4th T20I?
The West Indies defeated India by 24 runs in Hyderabad, scoring 247/3 before bowling India out for 223 in 19.3 overs.
What record did Shai Hope break in the match?
Shai Hope scored his third T20I century (102* off 50 balls), overtaking Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Nicholas Pooran, and Rovman Powell to claim the outright record for the most T20I hundreds by a West Indian cricketer.
Who was the Player of the Match?
West Indies captain Shai Hope was named Player of the Match for his match-winning, unbeaten century.
What were Keemo Paul’s bowling figures?
Keemo Paul took a career-best 5/41 in 3.3 overs, picking up the vital wickets of India’s middle order to halt the chase.
When does the 5th T20I decider take place in Nepal Time (NPT)?
The fifth and deciding T20I is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with the toss at 6:45 PM NPT and first ball at 7:15 PM NPT.
