A Series-Changing Victory
West Indies defeated India by 24 runs in the fourth T20I after scoring 247 for 3 and bowling the hosts out for 223 in 19.3 overs. The result levelled the series at 2-2 and created a decisive final match. Shai Hope was named player of the match for an unbeaten 102 from 50 balls, an innings that combined clean power with control of the scoring rate. Keemo Paul then took 5 for 41 as India attempted an extraordinary chase. Sanju Samson's 56 from 23 balls kept the pursuit alive, but the required pace and regular wickets ultimately proved too much.
Shai Hope Builds the Winning Total
Hope's hundred provided the innings with both structure and acceleration. A score of 247 demands aggression throughout, yet an opener also has to manage changing bowlers and avoid exposing the middle order too early. Hope achieved that balance, turning a strong start into a complete innings and remaining unbeaten. His 102 was not merely a collection of boundaries. It allowed teammates to attack around a stable centre and ensured that West Indies did not lose momentum through the middle overs. In a format defined by volatility, that continuity became a competitive advantage.
Why 247 for 3 Was So Difficult to Chase
India needed more than twelve runs an over from the beginning, leaving almost no room for a quiet phase. A chase of that size changes risk management. Batters cannot simply wait for one weak over, because the asking rate continues to climb. West Indies also had the psychological benefit of wickets in hand when setting the target, which allowed their finishers to attack without fear of being bowled out. India required several batters to produce exceptional strike rates in sequence. Samson delivered one such burst, but the rest of the innings could not sustain the same level without losing wickets.
Sanju Samson's Counterattack
Samson's 56 from 23 balls was the clearest sign that India would not surrender to the target. His innings compressed the gap between required and possible, forcing West Indies to defend under genuine pressure. Fast scoring in a chase is valuable only when it also preserves belief for the batters who follow. Samson accomplished that for a period, but the dismissal of a set attacker carries extra cost when the target is near 250. The innings remains a strong individual response even though it did not produce the winning result.
Keemo Paul Turns Pressure Into Wickets
Paul's five-wicket haul gave West Indies the decisive bowling performance. Defending a huge total can sometimes encourage passive plans, but India had enough hitting depth to punish predictability. Paul continued to attack the batters' options and accepted that runs would be conceded in exchange for opportunities. Figures of 5 for 41 in a match containing 470 runs demonstrate impact beyond economy rate. His wickets prevented partnerships from becoming long enough to convert India's explosive moments into control of the chase.
A Landmark Defensive Win
The victory was West Indies' first T20I win in India while defending a total, giving the result historical value beyond the immediate table. It also showed that the side could pair elite batting with enough wicket-taking threat to protect a score on a high-scoring surface. Conditions did not make defence easy, so the bowlers had to resist the temptation to measure success only by boundaries conceded. The match rewarded teams that kept creating dismissals. West Indies did that more consistently during the crucial overs.
India's Questions Before the Decider
India can take confidence from scoring 223 under extreme pressure, but the innings also highlights the difficulty of relying on repeated individual explosions. The bowling plan must be examined first because conceding 247 for 3 left the batting unit with a very narrow route. Fielding, match-ups and execution at the end of the innings will all matter in the decider. With the bat, India must decide how to combine aggression with partnerships long enough to keep the chase under control. The fourth match showed that raw scoring power alone cannot compensate for every early setback.
A Final Match With Momentum on Both Sides
At 2-2, the series has reached the kind of conclusion that a bilateral contest needs. West Indies arrive with the confidence of a record-setting defensive win, a centurion in form and a bowler who has just taken five wickets. India retain home advantage and evidence that their batting can threaten an enormous target. The decider will test adaptation rather than reputation. Whichever side learns more quickly from the fourth T20I will be best placed to take the series. Hope and Paul have ensured that the final game is not ceremonial but a genuine examination of pressure.
PUBLISHED BY SUYASH PACHAURI, FOUNDER & OWNER, GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD | THE HOLLYWOOD SCOPE