The fourth match of the 5-match T20 series between India and West Indies was played in Hyderabad on Wednesday (October 14). In this match, the Caribbean team won by 24 runs and leveled the series 2-2. West Indies, after being invited to bat first, scored 247 runs losing 3 wickets and then restricted Team India to 223. The heroes of the Caribbean team's victory were captain Shai Hope and Keemo Paul. Hope played a stormy innings of 102 not out and took West Indies to a huge score, while Paul tied the knot for India by taking 5 wickets. The fifth and deciding match of the series will be played in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Sanju Samson's hard work goes in vain
Sanju Samson gave a stormy start to the Indian team chasing the huge target. Sanju scored a half-century in 20 balls, taking India to 60 runs in 4 overs. He seemed to be in full mood but Keemo Paul made him leave as soon as he came into the bowling attack in the fifth over. Sanju returned to the pavilion after scoring 56 runs in 23 balls with the help of 6 fours and 4 sixes. A few moments later, Ishan Kishan (6) also started walking. Team India had not even recovered from these shocks when captain Shreyas Iyer was also out. Shreyas could score only 16 runs in 11 balls.
Abhishek Sharma was stuck at one end but runs were not coming from his bat. Ultimately, he was out in the 12th over after playing a slow innings of 29 runs in 24 balls. Gudakesh Moti got Naman Dhir stumped on the next ball, due to which half of India's team was reduced to 130. From here Tilak Verma (43 runs in 25 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41 runs in 20 balls) took the lead and raised hopes of victory.
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Had to score 59 runs in 24 balls but…
India needed 59 runs in the last 4 overs. It seemed that Tilak and Nitish would give India a miraculous victory but the hopes were dashed as soon as Tilak was out in the next over. He was trapped by Romario Shepherd on a slow ball. Keemo Paul completed his 5 wicket haul by dismissing Nitish, Prince Yadav and Akshar Patel in the 19th over. In the last over, Shamar Joseph's bouncer hit Arshdeep Singh on his shoulder, after which he left the field. Arshdeep retiring hurt meant that India was out after 3 balls.
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Such was the innings of West Indies
The opening pair of Shai Hope and Jewel Andrew gave a good start to West Indies. Both made an opening partnership of 52 runs in 4.2 overs. Andrew became the victim of Axar Patel after scoring 21 runs in 16 balls. After this Hetmyer played a brilliant inning of 33 runs in 12 balls. Rovman Powell scored 24 runs in 17 balls. After Powell's dismissal, Hope and Sherfane Ruthford made a partnership of 91 runs in 43 balls for the fourth wicket, taking West Indies close to 250. Hope completed his century by hitting two sixes on the last two balls of the innings, which proved to be decisive. Rutherford played an unbeaten inning of 49 runs in 26 balls.
Prince Yadav was the only bowler from India whose economy was below 10. Prince took 1 wicket for 36 runs in 4 overs. Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh gave away 52-52 runs.