Hope century, Paul five-for help West Indies beat India by 24 runs, level T20I series 2-2

West Indies beat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, 14 October, levelling the five-match series 2-2. Captain Shai Hope scored an unbeaten century and fast bowler Keemo Paul took five wickets, according to PTI and other reports.

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl. West Indies made 247 for 3 in their 20 overs. India’s chase ended at 223 in 19.4 overs.

Hope’s century sets up a big total

Hope finished on 102 not out off 50 balls, with four fours and nine sixes, according to PTI. The agency reported it was his fourth international century in India across formats and his second of this T20I series. Sherfane Rutherford added an unbeaten 49 off 26 balls, and Shimron Hetmyer made 33 off 12.

Opener Jewel Andrew, one of the most-searched names in India after the match, scored 21 off 16 balls before Axar Patel had him lbw in the powerplay. Outlook India reported that the decision was upheld on review. India.com’s live coverage said Andrew also took the catches that dismissed Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. PTI’s report credited Iyer’s wicket to Shamar Springer, so the scorecard details for that dismissal differ between reports.

• West Indies: 247/3 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 102* off 50, Sherfane Rutherford 49* off 26, Shimron Hetmyer 33 off 12, Rovman Powell 24 off 17, Jewel Andrew 21 off 16)
• India: 223 in 19.4 overs (Sanju Samson 56, Tilak Varma 43 off 25, Nitish Kumar Reddy 41 off 20)
• Keemo Paul: 5/41, according to PTI
• Prince Yadav: 1/36, the most economical of India’s wicket-takers, according to PTI

Paul halts India’s chase

Chasing 248, India started fast. Sanju Samson made 56 with six fours and four sixes. PTI reported that he faced 22 balls, while Outlook India and India.com put the figure at 23. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy then added 70 runs, according to PTI, before the chase fell away.

Paul dismissed Samson and Ishan Kishan (6). He returned at the death to take three wickets in the 18th and 19th overs, Outlook India reported. Prince Yadav was out first ball and Naman Dhir was stumped off Gudakesh Motie for a duck. Arshdeep Singh was struck on the arm and left the field, which ended the innings at 223. PTI listed the total as 223 for 9, while India.com described India as all out.

Outlook India reported Iyer as saying after the match that India’s problems started with their bowling. Axar Patel was playing his 200th international match, according to PTI.

Decider in Bengaluru

The fifth and final T20I, now a series decider, will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on 17 October, according to PTI and India.com.

Sources: The Statesman (PTI), Outlook India, India.com, Deccan Herald