Shai Hope’s unbeaten 162 powers West Indies to dramatic final-ODI victory
Bharatmorning.com – West Indies produced a remarkable run chase to defeat India by five wickets in the third and final ODI, overhauling a target of 352 with 10 deliveries remaining. Captain Shai Hope was the central figure in the win, staying unbeaten on 162 as his side reached 352/5 in 48.2 overs.
The result brought a sharp change in mood for Indian cricket followers after a day that had begun with celebration. Earlier, the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian T20I side secured Asian Games gold by beating Pakistan in the final. Later in the evening, India’s ODI team was left unable to protect a total that had appeared highly competitive.
Hope controls a demanding chase
Hope’s innings combined composure with timely aggression. He faced 143 balls, struck 17 fours and cleared the boundary three times, ensuring West Indies never lost sight of the demanding scoring rate. His century arrived from 104 deliveries, after which he increased the tempo as the finish line approached.
By the time he reached 150, which came from 139 balls, Hope had placed West Indies firmly in command. Gudakesh Motie then remained with him at the close, contributing an unbeaten 19 from 14 balls while Hope guided the visitors through the final phase.
West Indies lost John Campbell early for 10, but the setback did not derail the pursuit. Hope and Amir Jangoo rebuilt strongly in a crucial second-wicket stand that carried the total to 150 before Jangoo departed.
Jangoo gave the innings momentum with 67 off 56 balls, while Keemo Paul added a valuable 44 from 35 deliveries. Their contributions allowed Hope to play the anchor’s role without letting the required rate become unmanageable. West Indies crossed 300 during the 46th over and completed one of their most memorable ODI chases in the 49th.
India recover before Rahul’s late surge
India had earlier made 351/7 after being put in to bat, thanks largely to substantial innings from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Yet the hosts had to recover from a difficult start after captain Shubman Gill was out for one and Virat Kohli fell without scoring in successive deliveries.
Rohit responded with an assured and entertaining 92 from 85 balls. His innings contained 10 fours and three sixes, and he looked set for another ODI hundred before being dismissed in the 25th over, eight runs short of the milestone.
Ruturaj Gaikwad helped restore stability, making 57 from 69 balls. The decisive late acceleration came from Rahul, who remained undefeated on 129 from only 87 deliveries. He struck 10 fours and six sixes, scoring at 148.27 and pushing India beyond the 350 mark.
Rahul’s attack in the closing overs appeared to give India a total large enough to defend. In a match of this scale, 350-plus is usually a position of strength, particularly after an early top-order collapse. West Indies, however, answered with sustained intent and exceptional execution.
West Indies bowlers set up the opportunity
Jayden Seales led the West Indies bowling effort, taking 3/62 across his 10 overs. Paul collected two wickets and Motie claimed one, with the visitors doing enough to prevent India’s strong batting display from reaching an even more imposing total.
The Indian attack found the chase far more difficult to manage. Mohammed Siraj was the most economical of the bowlers, returning 1/52. Gurnoor Brar and Kuldeep Yadav also took a wicket each, but West Indies consistently maintained the pace required to stay in contention.
Anshul Kamboj conceded 82 runs in nine overs as Hope and his partners kept applying pressure. For India, the issue was not a lack of wickets alone but the inability to halt West Indies at key moments, particularly after the Hope-Jangoo partnership had established a platform.
A statement finish to the series
Hope’s knock ultimately separated the sides. His ability to absorb the early pressure, build partnerships and then accelerate in the final stretch transformed a formidable target into a reachable one. He remained there at the end, underlining the importance of his captain’s innings.
India could still take encouragement from their batting. Rohit’s near-century and Rahul’s unbeaten hundred showcased depth and firepower after the early dismissals of Gill and Kohli. But those positives were overshadowed by the failure to defend 351.
For West Indies, the five-wicket win ended India’s winning run in the ODI series and provided a powerful reminder of their ability to compete in high-scoring contests. The final ODI belonged to Hope, whose unbeaten 162 turned an imposing chase into a memorable triumph.
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