Cricket-Hope ton powers Windies to series-levelling win over India


Oct 14 (Reuters) - Shai Hope ⁠struck another century as West Indies beat India by 24runs in ⁠the fourth Twenty20 in Hyderabad on Wednesday to level the ‌five-match series at 2-2.

Chasing 248, India made a brisk start with Sanju Samson racing to a half-century off 20 deliveries before falling to Keemo Paul for 56.

ShreyasIyer chipped in ​with 16 off 11 balls and Abhishek ⁠Sharma contributed 29 beforeGudakesh Motie ⁠removed the opener. India accelerated again at the death through Nitish Kumar ⁠Reddy ‌and Tilak Varma, who added 70 runs from 32 balls to keep the chase alive.

Varma fell for 43 and Reddy was ⁠dismissed by Keemo Paul who triggered a collapse ​by claiming three wickets ‌in the 19th over. India's tail folded quickly and the ⁠hosts were bowled ​out for 223.

West Indies, put in to bat, made a brisk start with Jewel Andrew providing early impetus alongside captainHope before Axar Patel trapped the opener ⁠LBW for 21 off 16 balls.

Shimron Hetmyer ​and Hope added a rapid 58 runs, but Prince Yadav broke the stand with a caught-and-bowled effort to dismiss Hetmyer for a blistering 33 off ⁠12 balls. Rovman Powell followed soon after, departing for 24.

Hope remainedunfazed, however, sharing an unbroken 91-run stand from 43 balls with Sherfane Rutherford who finished unbeaten on 49 off 26 deliveries.

The hosts accelerated at the ​death, taking 22 runs off the 17th over ⁠to surge past the 200-run mark.

Hope smashed an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls ​with four fours and nine sixes, reaching ‌the milestone with a six off ​the final delivery as West Indies finished on 247 for three.

(Reporting by Paras J. Haji in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)

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