Hope’s Unbeaten 162 Scripts Record Chase as West Indies Beat India by 5 Wickets

Shai Hope’s 162 Leads West Indies to Record 352-Run Chase Against India

Shai Hope delivered a remarkable captain’s performance as West Indies chased down 352 against India in New Chandigarh to register their highest successful run chase in ODI cricket.

Hope, who kept wickets throughout India’s 50-over innings, then walked out to open the chase and remained at the crease for 48.2 overs. Despite battling a niggle late in the innings, he stayed unbeaten on 162 to guide West Indies to 352/5 with 10 balls remaining.

The victory ended West Indies’ wait for an ODI win over India since 2023 and prevented India from completing a clean sweep. The hosts had already secured the three-match series by winning the opening two games.

The chase was even more impressive as West Indies were without Jewel Andrew, who was injured and did not bat. Hope consequently carried much of the responsibility at the top of the order.

His unbeaten 162 also became the highest individual ODI score by a West Indies batter against India, surpassing Desmond Haynes’ unbeaten 152 in Georgetown in 1989.

The result also set a new benchmark for West Indies in successful ODI chases, eclipsing their previous best of 331/5 against Ireland in Malahide in 2019.

India Recover After Early Setbacks

India were in trouble almost immediately after being sent in. Jayden Seales removed Shubman Gill for just one before dismissing Virat Kohli for a golden duck, leaving the hosts at 4/2 inside three overs.

Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad then rebuilt the innings with a 137-run stand. Rohit initially took his time before unleashing a series of trademark pulls, cuts and drives once he settled in.

The India captain reached his half-century from 58 deliveries and accelerated rapidly thereafter. He scored 42 runs from his next 27 balls but fell for 92 off 85 deliveries after attempting another attacking stroke against Keemo Paul. His innings included 10 fours and three sixes.

Gaikwad provided valuable support with 57 from 69 balls, including four sixes.

KL Rahul then took India into a commanding position. After beginning as the anchor, Rahul gradually increased the tempo and capitalised on two dropped chances.

He combined with Naman Dhir and Gurnoor Brar before Anshul Kamboj added a quick 17 from nine balls, including two sixes.

Rahul brought up his century from just 80 balls, accelerating from 50 to 100 in 39 deliveries. He then launched a late assault, including an 84-metre six off Alzarri Joseph and successive sixes against Seales.

The right-hander finished unbeaten on 129 from 87 balls, striking 10 fours and two sixes. India collected 105 runs from the final 10 overs to reach 351/7.

Hope and Jangoo Put West Indies in Control

West Indies began their chase aggressively. John Campbell struck two boundaries in the opening over before Hope attacked Anshul Kamboj with two fours in the next.

Campbell was eventually dismissed by Mohammed Siraj, but Hope found a reliable partner in Amir Jangoo.

Jangoo took the attack to the Indian bowlers and compiled 67, his third consecutive fifty-plus score of the series. The pair added a century partnership that put West Indies firmly on course before Jangoo was dismissed after a misfield.

Hope continued to control the chase and reached his 21st ODI century after Sherfane Rutherford departed.

Keemo Paul then provided the acceleration, keeping the required rate within reach. India briefly threatened a comeback when Paul fell attempting to attack a short delivery and Kuldeep Yadav removed Matthew Forde.

But Hope remained in complete control.

He smashed Kuldeep for a six and a four in the spinner’s final over before exploiting India’s slow-over-rate penalty, which meant an additional fielder had to remain inside the circle.

Hope struck consecutive boundaries against Gurnoor Brar before Kamboj conceded 22 runs in an over that effectively sealed the result.

West Indies reached 352/5 in 48.2 overs to complete their biggest successful ODI chase.

Hope’s innings was extraordinary in every sense: he had kept for the entire Indian innings, opened the batting, battled through physical discomfort and remained unbeaten until the winning runs were scored.