The West Indies vs India T20I series produced another high-scoring thriller as West Indies powered to a 24-run victory in the fourth T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Driven by a brilliant century from skipper Shai Hope and a decisive five-wicket haul from all-rounder Keemo Paul, the visitors leveled the five-match series at 2-2.
Following India’s narrow 14-run victory in the third match at Indore, West Indies delivered a clinical performance under pressure to set up an exciting series finale.
Match Summary: West Indies Post 247 Before Bowling India Out
India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first, expecting the dew to assist in the second half of the match. However, the West Indies top order capitalized on ideal batting conditions to score 247/3 in their 20 overs.
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| 4TH T20I MATCH SUMMARY (HYDERABAD) |
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| Toss : India (Elected to bowl first) |
| West Indies : 247/3 in 20.0 overs (Shai Hope 105*, S. Rutherford 52) |
| India : 223 all out in 19.3 overs (Rinku Singh 68, K. Paul 5/41)|
| Result : West Indies won by 24 runs |
| Series Status : Series leveled at 2-2 |
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Chasing 248 for victory, India were bowled out for 223 in 19.3 overs despite aggressive middle-order contributions. Keemo Paul’s key strikes in the closing overs halted India’s chase, sealing a 24-run win for the Caribbean side.
Shai Hope’s Crucial Contribution: Leading From the Front
West Indies captain Shai Hope continued his fine form in the West Indies vs India T20I series with an unbeaten century. Opening the batting, Hope scored 105 off 54 balls, hitting eight fours and seven sixes.
Hope structured the innings effectively, accelerating during the middle overs against spin before attacking India’s pace options in the death overs. His 112-run partnership for the third wicket with Sherfane Rutherford (52 off 26 balls) provided West Indies with the platform needed to cross the 240-run mark. Hope was named Player of the Match for his captain’s knock.
Keemo Paul Delivers Match-Winning 5-Wicket Haul
While Hope provided the runs, all-rounder Keemo Paul delivered the decisive performance with the ball. Paul picked up 5 wickets for 41 runs in his four overs, disrupting India’s middle and lower order.
Keemo Paul's Bowling Spell Breakdown:
- Spell Figures: 4.0 Overs | 0 Maidens | 41 Runs | 5 Wickets
- Key Wickets : Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel
- Economy Rate : 10.25 (Crucial during high-scoring powerplay & death overs)
Paul’s variations proved effective on a batting-friendly surface. His dismissal of Rinku Singh in the 18th over broke a dangerous 65-run partnership, effectively ending India’s chances of completing the chase.
India’s Response: Strong Start Falls Short Under Pressure
India began their pursuit of 248 with intent, accumulating 72 runs in the powerplay. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a rapid 44 off 21 balls, while Rinku Singh kept India in contention with 68 off 31 deliveries.
However, India lost wickets at critical junctures. Regular strikes from Paul and Romario Shepherd prevented India from sustaining the required run rate above 12 runs per over. India’s lower order was eventually dismissed for 223 with three balls remaining in the innings.
What This Result Means for the West Indies vs India T20I Series
The 24-run victory by West Indies leveled the five-match West Indies vs India T20I series at 2-2, taking the bilateral contest to a decisive fifth match.
For West Indies, the result reflects consistent batting depth and disciplined execution under pressure. For India, addressing death-bowling execution and middle-order partnerships remains a priority heading into the series decider.
Conclusion
Shai Hope’s century and Keemo Paul’s five-wicket haul combined to give West Indies a deserved victory in Hyderabad, setting up a winner-takes-all final T20I match. Both teams enter the series finale with two wins each in what has been a closely contested series.
