After Mayank’s Storm, Hope, Rutherford and Shepherd Unleash a Caribbean Hurricane
RANCHI: West Indies defeated India on Friday with a record chase of 250 runs in T20 cricket, their highest successful chase in the format and the second-highest successful chase in T20 Internationals overall. The victory levelled the series at 1-1. South Africa hold the record for the highest successful chase, having chased down a target of 259 against West Indies in 2023.
West Indies rode on a record-breaking 120-run partnership off just 54 balls between captain-opener Shai Hope (102 not out off 45 balls, including nine sixes and six fours) and Sherfane Rutherford (84 off 37 balls, including seven sixes and seven fours). Hope then shared an unbeaten 74-run stand off just 26 balls with Romario Shepherd (34 not out off 13 balls, including three sixes and three fours) as the Caribbean side stormed to 252 for four in 18.3 overs to seal a memorable victory.
After the storm unleashed by Mayank Yadav (3-0-36-3), the three Caribbean batters made the chase look remarkably comfortable. When Mayank claimed two wickets in two balls and later picked up his third, some West Indies players and supporters might have lost hope, but captain Shai Hope stood firm. Kuldeep Yadav took one wicket, while Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and Naman Dhir went wicketless.
Mayank Yadav, once regarded as India’s fastest bowler, created a sensation by taking two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the very first over of the innings. Bowling at 143 kmph, he had Kamil Pooran caught by substitute fielder Ravi Bishnoi. Mayank’s fourth delivery, clocked at 144 kmph, clean-bowled Shimron Hetmyer (0), who had scored more than 1,600 runs in 87 T20 matches. Before Hetmyer could make sense of the sheer pace of Mayank’s delivery, his bails had already been sent flying.
Mayank struck again in the third over, uprooting the off stump of Rovman Powell, who scored 24, with a delivery clocked at 149.5 kmph. Shai Hope held one end together and received memorable support from Rutherford. In the final ODI of the recent series, Hope had also scored an unbeaten 162 to prevent a 3-0 whitewash, although India went on to win that series 2-1.
Earlier on Friday, India posted a formidable 249 for five after being asked to bat. Sanju Samson (82 off 41 balls, including four sixes and nine fours) and Ishan Kishan (43 off 22 balls, including two sixes and six fours) put together a 97-run partnership. Captain Shreyas Iyer (40 off 18 balls, including three sixes and three fours) and Tilak Varma (44 not out off 18 balls, including three sixes and three fours) then added 83 runs for the fifth wicket, powering India to a massive total of 249 for five. Roston Chase claimed three wickets, while Shamar Springer picked up two. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for just 20.
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