Shai Hope's Record Century Levels T20 Series Against India

Shai Hope smashed a record 102 not out as West Indies beat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20 international, levelling the five-match series at 2-2 heading into Saturday's decider in Bengaluru. Put in to bat after India won the toss, West Indies piled up 247-3, the second-highest total ever posted against India in the format, trailing only England's 257-3 at Southampton earlier this year.

Hope's innings, built on nine sixes and four fours, was his third T20 century and the highest ever by a West Indies batter in the format. Fans following the series closely, including those tracking the action through platforms like fairdeal casino, watched a genuinely rare feat unfold as Hope became only the fifth batter in history to score multiple hundreds in a bilateral T20 series. It capped an extraordinary tour for the 31-year-old, his fourth century in just seven innings across ODIs and T20s against India.

Hope's Blistering Assault Sets the Platform

West Indies got off to a flying start as Hope added 52 off 26 balls with Jewel Andrew before Axar Patel trapped Andrew lbw in the fifth over. Even then, the tourists reached 79-1 in the powerplay. Hope kept the foot down, adding 58 off 24 balls with Shimron Hetmyer and reaching his half-century off just 28 balls with five sixes. He raced to his second hundred of the series with another four maximums, undeterred when Prince Yadav removed Hetmyer for 33. Rovman Powell chipped in with 24, but it was the Hope-Rutherford stand that broke India's spirit - Sherfane Rutherford's unbeaten 49 off 26 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes, added 91 in only 43 balls as the innings closed with a flourish. India also conceded a slow over-rate penalty, and Nitish Reddy's expensive final over, which cost 19 runs, allowed Hope to bring up his century with a six off the last ball.

India's Chase Falls Apart Despite Samson Blitz

Sanju Samson gave India hope with a rapid 56 off 23 balls, striking four sixes as he and Abhishek Sharma put on 60 in 25 balls to take India to 80-2 in the powerplay. But Keemo Paul turned the contest with two strikes in the fifth over, removing Samson and then Ishan Kishan in the space of three balls. India slipped further when skipper Shreyas Iyer fell for 16, leaving the chase at 97-3 before the halfway mark. Abhishek's dismissal for 29 in the 12th over proved pivotal, and Gudakesh Motie compounded the damage by stumping Naman Dhir for a golden duck.

Late Resistance Not Enough

Tilak Varma's 43 off 25 balls and Nitish Reddy's quickfire 41 off 20 balls offered India a glimmer of hope, but Paul returned to claim three wickets in the 19th over, finishing with 5-41 for his second five-wicket haul in T20 cricket. India were bowled out for 223 in 19.3 overs, handing West Indies a 24-run win. The series now stands level at 2-2, setting up a winner-takes-all finale in Bengaluru on Saturday.