Hope’s hundred levels series against India

HYDERABAD, India (AP):

Shai Hope smashed an unbeaten 102 to set a West Indies record and lead his side to a 24-run victory over India in the fourth T20 International yesterday, levelling the five-match series at 2-2.

Hope struck nine sixes and four fours in registering his third T20 century, the most by a West Indies batter, as the visitors piled up 247-3 after being sent in to bat. India won the toss and chose to field.

It was the second-highest first-innings total against India in T20 cricket, behind England’s 257-3 in Southampton earlier this year.

In reply, Sanju Samson blasted 56 off 23 balls, but India slipped to 130-5 and never seriously threatened the target. The hosts were eventually dismissed for 223 in 19.3 overs.

Keemo Paul claimed 5-41 for his second five-wicket haul in T20 cricket.

The series decider will be played in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Put into bat, Hope provided West Indies with a flying start, sharing an opening stand of 52 from 26 balls with Jewel Andrew (21). Axar Patel trapped Andrew lbw in the fifth over, but the visitors still raced to 79-1 in the Powerplay.

Hope then added 58 off 24 balls with Shimron Hetmyer and reached his half-century from 28 deliveries, including five sixes. He accelerated further, bringing up his second hundred of the series with another four maximums.

Hope also became only the fifth batter to score multiple centuries in a bilateral T20 series. Overall, it was his fourth century in seven innings across the ODI and T20 formats on this tour.

He was not finished there. Although Prince Yadav dismissed Hetmyer for 33 and Rovman Powell made 24, West Indies maintained their momentum.

Sherfane Rutherford contributed an unbeaten 49 from 26 balls, striking four fours and three sixes, to provide the final flourish as West Indies surged beyond 200.

Hope and Rutherford added 91 runs from just 43 balls. With India serving a slow over-rate penalty in the final over, Nitish Reddy conceded 19 runs in the 20th, while Hope brought up his century with a six off the final ball of the innings.

India began their chase briskly, with Samson clearing the ropes four times. He and Abhishek Sharma (29) put on 60 from 25 balls as India reached 80-2 in the Powerplay.

Paul struck twice in the fifth over, removing Samson, caught at square leg off the first ball, before Ishan Kishan was caught at deep mid-wicket for six three deliveries later.

India also lost captain Shreyas Iyer (16) before the halfway stage and slipped to 97-3.

Abhishek never fully settled at the crease, scoring 29 from 24 balls with three fours and a six. His dismissal proved decisive when he was caught at long-off off Gudakesh Motie in the 12th over.

Motie then had Naman Dhir stumped for a golden duck.

Tilak Varma battled with 43 from 25 balls, while Nitish Reddy chipped in with a brisk 41 from 20 deliveries, but their efforts were not enough.

Paul returned to take three wickets in the 19th over and wrap up the innings.