Friday night’s second T20I will be talked about for a long time. West Indies chased down 250 against India in just 18.3 overs, with Shai Hope smashing an unbeaten 102 off 45 balls to level the series 1-1. If you missed it, here is how one of the most extraordinary run chases in T20 international cricket unfolded.
India had looked in complete control. After a middle-order slowdown, late fireworks from Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma lifted the hosts to 249 for 5. It felt like a match-winning total. It wasn’t.
A Chase That Started Badly, Then Exploded
The West Indies innings began with a stumble. Two wickets fell in the very first over, and Indian fans were already celebrating what looked like a routine win. What followed was pure mayhem.
Shai Hope, promoted into the thick of the pressure, steadied things with Rovman Powell before Powell departed. Then Sherfane Rutherford walked in and changed the game. The two added 120 runs in a partnership that turned the required rate from scary to comfortable. Rutherford blazed 84 off just 37 balls, and by the time he fell, the momentum had fully shifted.
Hope, meanwhile, was unstoppable. He finished unbeaten on 102 from 45 deliveries, with nine sixes and six fours, and fittingly hit the runs that sealed a six-wicket win with more than an over to spare.
The Numbers Behind the Madness
- West Indies chased 250 in 18.3 overs, one of the highest successful T20I chases ever.
- Shai Hope scored 102 not out off 45 balls, with nine sixes and six fours.
- Sherfane Rutherford’s 84 off 37 balls gave the innings its early fuel.
- India posted 249 for 5, built on late contributions from Iyer and Tilak Varma.
- The series is now level at 1-1, setting up a decider.
Gambhir Defends the Flexible Batting Order
After the match, India head coach Gautam Gambhir faced tough questions. Shivam Dube’s promotion to No. 4 had raised eyebrows, and India’s bowling on a night when 500 runs were scored came under scrutiny. Gambhir was unmoved on strategy, saying only the openers’ spots are permanent and that the rest of the batting order will stay flexible depending on match situations.
“More importantly, I think we have always been flexible with our batting order, and we will continue to do that,” he said, adding that Dube has been used in this role before, including during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, so this was no one-off experiment.
On the bowling, he pointed to the bigger picture: totals like 250 were thought safe, two early wickets were taken, and credit had to go to the opposition. He also refused to blame Mayank Yadav for the dropped catch of Rutherford, noting that catches get dropped and nobody drops them on purpose.
What It Means for the Decider
The loss stings for India, but it also tells them exactly where they stand. The bowling attack was taken apart by two batters in sublime touch, and the flexibility in the batting order will now be judged on results. For West Indies, this is the kind of win that can define a tour. Chasing 250 against India, in India, after losing two early wickets, is a statement.
The decider promises to be a cracker. India will want a response, West Indies will smell an upset series win, and fans get the best possible outcome: a live rubber.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score in the second T20I?
India scored 249 for 5, and West Indies chased it down in 18.3 overs with six wickets in hand, winning by six wickets.
Q: How many runs did Shai Hope score?
Shai Hope finished unbeaten on 102 from 45 balls, including nine sixes and six fours.
Q: What is the series score now?
The series is level at 1-1 after West Indies’ record chase.
Q: What did Gautam Gambhir say about India’s batting order?
Gambhir said only the openers’ spots are fixed and that India will continue to keep the rest of the T20I batting order flexible based on match situations.
Q: Who were the other key performers?
Sherfane Rutherford smashed 84 off 37 balls for West Indies, while Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma provided late impetus for India.
That’s all from a wild Friday night of cricket. For more stories like this, keep reading Informeia.
