Shai Hope hails Roston Chase's spell after historic win against India

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West Indies captain Shai Hope showered praise on off-spinner Roston Chase for his economical bowling spell against India during the second T20I in Ranchi, where both teams combined for over 500 runs. 

Chase delivered standout figures of 3/24 in his four overs, removing key batters Abhishek Sharma (20), Ishan Kishan (43), and Shivam Dube (7) to keep India within reach at 249/5 in their allotted 20 overs at the JSCA International Stadium.

Driven by Hope’s unbeaten century alongside blistering half-centuries from Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, the visitors successfully chased down the target in 18.3 overs, finishing at 252/4 to level the five-match series 1-1. 

“Amazing. On a surface and a field like this, to go out for six runs and over is unbelievable. So he really kept us in the game. It was very difficult conditions to bowl on, so the way he bowled and kept us in the game made it a lot easier for us to chase that score,” Hope said during the post-match ceremony.

West Indies created history against India

The win marked the highest successful T20I run chase in West Indies history and the second-highest overall in the format, trailing only South Africa’s 259-run chase against the Caribbean side in Centurion in 2023.

The record victory looked unlikely early in the response when Indian fast bowler Mayank Yadav reduced the visitors to 5/2 in the opening over by dismissing Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer on back-to-back deliveries. However, Player of the Match Hope (102* off 45 balls) anchored the innings through a crucial 53-run stand with Rovman Powell, followed by a game-changing 120-run partnership with Rutherford (84 off 37) and an unbroken 74-run stand with Shepherd (34* off 13).

“(Thoughts at 5 for 2?) That it’s going to be a tough chase, but once you chase here in India, you always give yourself a challenge. You always think you’re in the game, regardless of what score is on the board, but 5 for 2 is always going to be challenging. (On the belief?) We got that partnership there with myself and Rovman. We just got some more impetus into the innings. And then obviously Sherfane came and did what he did,” Hope added.

(With inputs from ANI)

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