West Indies stunned India at home in Ranchi on Friday, chasing down a mammoth target of 250 with nine balls to spare to win the second T20I and level the five-match series 1-1. At the centre of the remarkable run chase was captain Shai Hope, who finished unbeaten on 102 off just 45 balls.

Batting first, India had piled up 249 for 5 on the back of Sanju Samson’s 82 off 41 balls and a stunning finishing act from Tilak Varma and Shreyas Iyer. West Indies lost two wickets in a devastating opening over from Mayank Yadav and another to the pacer in the sixth over – but what followed was pure carnage.

Hope’s rescue act

Hope found an ally in Sherfane Rutherford, and the pair added 120 runs in just 54 balls before Rutherford fell for 84 off 37. Romario Shepherd then carried on the assault from where Rutherford left off while Hope kept clearing the ropes. With the 19th over beginning, Hope was on 90 off 42 balls; he hit a six off the first ball and another off the third to raise his second T20I century and seal a famous win for the visitors. It was also the moment Hope settled an old score with a knowing nod – after the match he posted “250? Cool” on Instagram, almost exactly what India’s ODI captain Shubman Gill had posted after his unbeaten double century powered India’s chase of 406 in the second ODI in Guwahati.

Series wide open

The victory ended India’s winning streak of 10 T20Is since Shreyas Iyer took over as captain in the shortest format. The five-match series is now level at 1-1, with the third T20I scheduled for Sunday in Indore. India will need to regroup quickly: their bowlers were dismantled on a flat Ranchi pitch, and the visitors arrive in Indore with belief and momentum on their side.