Shai Hope's Century and Keemo Paul's Five-Wicket Haul Set Up Bengaluru Decider

West Indies produced a powerful all-round performance to defeat India by 24 runs in the fourth T20 International in Hyderabad on October 14, bringing the five-match series level at 2-2. Captain Shai Hope led the batting charge with an unbeaten century, while fast bowler Keemo Paul dismantled India's chase with a five-wicket haul.

The result means the series will be decided in the fifth T20I in Bengaluru on October 17. After India had taken a 2-1 lead with victory in Indore, the visitors responded with a composed display under pressure to keep the contest alive.

Hope Leads West Indies to a Huge Total

Asked to bat first, West Indies made full use of the conditions at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Hope and returning opener Jewel Andrew gave the visitors an aggressive start, adding 52 runs for the opening wicket before Andrew was dismissed by Axar Patel.

Hope continued to dominate with well-timed strokes and powerful hitting. Shimron Hetmyer contributed 33 from just 12 deliveries, helping West Indies maintain their scoring momentum. Rovman Powell added 24 from 17 balls before Sherfane Rutherford joined Hope for a decisive late partnership.

Hope and Rutherford remained unbeaten in a fourth-wicket stand worth 91 runs. Rutherford struck 49 not out from 26 balls, while Hope reached his century on the final delivery of the innings. His 102 not out from 50 balls included a series of commanding shots that pushed West Indies to an imposing 247/3 in 20 overs.

India's bowlers struggled to contain the scoring rate, particularly during the middle and final overs. Axar Patel and Prince Yadav took one wicket apiece, but West Indies finished with a total that demanded an exceptional chase.

Samson Gives India a Flying Start

India began their pursuit of 248 with an explosive opening partnership. Sanju Samson attacked from the outset, helping the hosts race to 60 without loss in just four overs. His aggressive innings put India in a strong position during the Powerplay and briefly raised hopes of another successful chase.

However, Keemo Paul changed the direction of the match with a crucial double strike. He dismissed Samson for 56 off 23 balls and then removed Ishan Kishan for six, leaving India under pressure despite their rapid start.

Abhishek Sharma scored 29, but India's middle order struggled to maintain the required scoring rate. Gudakesh Motie applied further pressure by dismissing Abhishek and Naman Dhir in consecutive deliveries. Shreyas Iyer's 16 also failed to develop into a substantial contribution, leaving the home side needing a major partnership.

Tilak Varma and Nitish Reddy Keep India in the Contest

Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy attempted to revive India's chase with an aggressive partnership. Tilak scored 43 from 25 balls, while Reddy contributed 41 from 20 deliveries. Their 70-run stand brought India back into contention and kept the pressure on the West Indies bowlers.

Romario Shepherd broke the partnership by removing Tilak, and Paul then struck again to dismiss Reddy. Paul followed up with further wickets late in the innings, including those of Prince Yadav and Axar Patel, completing figures of five wickets for 41 runs.

India's innings ended at 223 in 19.3 overs after Arshdeep Singh retired hurt. Despite the early fireworks and the late resistance from Tilak and Reddy, the hosts fell 24 runs short of the target.

Paul and Motie Deliver at the Crucial Moment

West Indies had struggled to defend totals consistently earlier in the series, but their bowlers adapted effectively as the match progressed. Paul mixed his pace intelligently and used the short ball to create pressure, while Motie's controlled spell prevented India from building another substantial partnership.

The visitors also benefited from the difference between their own middle-order acceleration and India's inability to sustain its initial momentum. The bowling performance turned a high-scoring contest into a memorable victory for the Caribbean side.

Series Decider Awaits in Bengaluru

With the series now tied 2-2, both teams will head to Bengaluru for the fifth and final T20I on October 17. India will look to recover from the setback and improve their middle-order response, while West Indies will take confidence from Hope's outstanding form and the effectiveness of their bowling attack.

The deciding match promises a compelling finish to the tour. Hope has once again demonstrated his ability to anchor a major total, and Paul's five-wicket performance has given the West Indies a timely boost. With the series trophy on the line, the final encounter will determine which side finishes the T20I contest on top.