A high-scoring thriller on a freshly prepared Hyderabad pitch culminated in a rare defensive victory for the West Indies. Defending a formidable target of 247, the visitors managed to stifle India’s chase, securing a 24-run win that keeps the series alive and forces a final showdown in Bengaluru. But West Indies’ bowlers snatched control at separate points in India’s pursuit of 247, giving a rare win for a team defending a total on this tour, the newly laid Hyderabad pitch laid out another run-filled story.
Shai Hope anchored the West Indies innings with a brilliant, unbeaten 102 off 50 balls, marking his fourth century of the tour. The team’s aggressive approach, bolstered by boundary-hitting from the outset, saw them post 79 for 1 in the Powerplay—their highest T20I total against India in that phase. Jewel Andrew set the tone early with a massive six off Arshdeep Singh, while Hope maintained consistency by accessing the field effectively. Despite India’s attempts to regain control, partnerships continued to flourish, with Sherfane Rutherford adding a crucial 49 to help propel the total to 247 for 3. And Hope quickly leaned into his red-hot form to unfurl his fourth ton of this tour, a 17-run over set the tempo. Accessing the ‘V’ like he always does, and using his wrists and timing to hoick balls on the leg-side, hope was ruthless to anything too full and hittable. But Shimron Hetmyer took little time to get going, picking out an under-the-pump Arshdeep Singh’s slot offerings, axar Patel’s entry in the Powerplay gave India a breakthrough.
In reply, India started aggressively through Sanju Samson, who cleared the ropes early and pushed the score to 50 for 0 by the third over. However, the lack of dew on the surface allowed the West Indies seamers to gain traction through tactical bowling changes. Keemo Paul proved particularly effective, claiming 5 for 41, while Gudakesh Motie provided excellent support with a restrictive spell of 2 for 13. Later, Keemo Paul’s clever changeups at the back end derailed India’s chase. But overdid it at times: one particular bouncer flew over Samson’s head, mayank Yadav tried to pepper them with early pace.
India’s middle-order momentum struggled as Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and Naman Dhir failed to build substantial partnerships. While Tilak Varma and Nitish Reddy attempted a recovery with a 70-run stand off 32 balls, their eventual dismissals left the lower order with too steep a task. India finished at 223 for 9 in 19.3 overs, marking the first time West Indies successfully defended a total against India on Indian soil after six prior failed attempts. Naman Dhir, among the wickets so far, ran into a negative matchup against Hope, giving 19 runs in his solitary over.
The match was defined by the contrast in how both sides handled short-pitched bowling; whereas the West Indies thrived, India’s batters managed only 32 runs off 31 deliveries when facing similar tactics. The series is now perfectly poised for the final match, with both teams eager to claim the title in Bengaluru.
