Hope’s ton helps Windies set a daunting task for India in 4th T20 I

Hyderabad: Yet another flat track saw the West Indies captain Shai Hope taking the Indian bowling to cleaners with a solid 102 off just fifty balls and helping the Windies post an imposing 247 for the loss of three wickets in the fourth T20I against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Hope, who carried his bat through, was in rollicking form as he gave no hope for the Indian bowlers. His century was studded with four boundaries and nine sixes. Right from the start, he was in good touch. Having put in to bat after India won the toss, the West Indies began their innings on a right note. Mayank opened the Indian bowling attack.

The second over from Arshdeep saw Andrew hoisting his second ball for a six, and the Windies collected 17 runs from his over. Hope too opened up in the fourth over, carting Prince for a straight six followed by a boundary. The West Indies reached 51 by the end of 3.3 overs, and the openers collected 50 runs in 22 balls. The introduction of Axar saw India draw the first blood with Andrew falling lbw (21 in 16 balls, 2×4 1×6) while trying to reverse sweep. The opening wicket added 54 runs.

Though the batsman took a review, he was declared out. His exit saw Hetmyer join Hope. Arshdeep couldn’t stick to a line. Hetmyer capitalised and hit him for a 4 and a six off the last ball, and the West Indies reached 79 for 1 after the end of the powerplay. The lefty targeted Axar and hit him for two fours in his second over, taking the Windies to 90for 1 at the end of seven overs. A healthy 12.86 run rate was maintained from the start. Naman was welcomed with a six by Hope, and the 100 came up in 7.4 overs with 13 extras.

The change of ends for Prince Yadav saw Hetmyer depart for 33 runs ( 4 boundaries and 2 sixes). The ball rushed on him, and he gave a simple return catch to Prince.

It was a welcome breakthrough for India as Hetmyer was looking to get into his groove. Meanwhile, Shai Hope carried on from where he left. He was in good touch and reached his 50 in 28 balls(2×4, 5×6). His second fifty in this series. Axar Patel went for 45 runs in 4 overs. Arshdeep, who came back in the 13th over, was lucky to scalp the wicket of Rovman Powell (24, 17 balls,2fours, and a six), who slashed at a delivery outside the off stump and was caught by Sanju Samson. The third wicket fell at 156.

After 10 overs, West Indies were 118/2, scoring at a run rate of 11.8 and reached 206 in the 17th over. In the 17th over, Rutherford came to the party, and Mayank’s last over cost him 22 runs.

However, he got a reprieve at 40 when Mayank could not hold on to an easy chance of Prince’s bowling. Prince was the most economical, conceding 36 runs in his four overs. Arshdeep’s four overs cost him 52 runs, and he took one wicket. Nitish, who was tasked with bowling the last over, was greeted with a four on his first ball by Rutherford. Hope struck two sixes off his last two balls to reach a well-deserved hundred. In the last five overs, the Windies scored 70 runs.