Hope 162 powers West Indies to record 352 chase, first ODI win over India since 2023
Brief Scores: West Indies (352/5 in 48.2 overs) beat India (351/7 in 50 overs) by five wickets in third ODI in Mullanpur
Shai Hope produced a captain's innings to remember as West Indies chased down 352 against India in New Chandigarh, completing their highest successful run chase in ODI cricket.
Hope had kept wickets for all 50 overs of India's innings before opening the chase. He then stayed at the crease for 48.2 overs, battling through a niggle to finish unbeaten on 162 and take West Indies home with 10 balls to spare.
Hope had spent almost the entire match on the field. He was visibly struggling towards the end of his innings, but stayed on to finish the job as West Indies reached 352/5 in 48.2 overs.
The win was West Indies' first against India in ODIs since 2023 and denied the hosts a series sweep. India had already won the first two matches to seal the three-match series.
The chase was all the more impressive because West Indies were a batter short. Jewel Andrew was injured and did not come out to bat, leaving Hope to carry much of the responsibility at the top of the order.
Hope's unbeaten 162 was the highest individual score by a West Indies batter against India in ODIs, going past Desmond Haynes' 152 not out in Georgetown in 1989.
It was also West Indies' highest successful chase in ODI cricket, beating their previous best of 331/5 against Ireland in Malahide in 2019.
India had recovered from a poor start to post 351/7. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli were dismissed inside the first three overs, but Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul steadied the innings before Rahul's unbeaten century gave India a strong finish.
West Indies, though, made a flying start to the chase. John Campbell hit two boundaries in the first over and Hope took on Kamboj with two fours in the next. West Indies raced to 33 without loss after three overs before Mohammed Siraj bowled Campbell.
Amir Jangoo joined Hope and the pair settled the chase. Jangoo took charge of the scoring for a period and went on to make 67, his third successive fifty-plus score in the series.
Their century partnership gave West Indies a solid platform before Jangoo was dismissed following a misfield.
Hope continued to move through the gears and reached his 21st ODI hundred after Sherfane Rutherford was dismissed. Keemo Paul then took over the attacking role as West Indies kept the asking rate under control.
With 81 needed from the final 10 overs, India briefly found a way back. Paul fell trying to attack a short ball before Kuldeep Yadav removed Matthew Forde.
But Hope was still there. He hit Kuldeep for a six and a four in his final over and then made the most of India's slow-over-rate penalty, with an extra fielder inside the circle. Hope struck two boundaries off successive deliveries against Brar before Kamboj conceded 22 runs in an over that all but ended India's hopes.
After keeping for 50 overs, opening the innings and battling through the final stages with a niggle, Hope stayed unbeaten on 162.
West Indies had their record chase. Hope had his record innings.ROHIT'S 92 STEADIES INDIA AFTER EARLY BLOWS
India were rocked early as Jayden Seales removed Shubman Gill for 1 before producing another excellent delivery to dismiss Virat Kohli for a golden duck. Kohli stepped forward to flick a full delivery, but the ball nipped back in and sneaked through the gap between bat and pad to crash into the middle stump.
With India reduced to 4/2, Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad steadied the innings. The pair put together a 137-run partnership as they negotiated a pitch that offered more assistance to the pacers than the batting-friendly surfaces seen in the first two ODIs.
Rohit started cautiously and brought up his fifty from 58 balls. He then shifted gears, taking on the West Indies attack with his trademark pulls, cuts and drives. He survived a couple of LBW scares before accelerating after reaching his half-century.
Rohit scored 42 runs from his next 27 deliveries and moved into the 90s with back-to-back boundaries off Gudakesh Motie. However, his attempt to continue the attack ended his innings as Keemo Paul dismissed him for 92 off 85 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes.
It meant Rohit missed out on his 36th ODI century and joined Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Vusi Sibanda and Adam Gilchrist as batters dismissed in the 90s multiple times against the West Indies in ODIs.
Ruturaj also made a valuable contribution, scoring 57 off 69 balls, including one four and four sixes, before India turned to the middle order.RAHUL'S UNBEATEN TON FUELS INDIA'S SURGE
KL Rahul then took charge of the innings. He initially played the role of an anchor but became increasingly aggressive as the innings progressed.
Rahul brought up his fifty off 41 balls and then shifted through the gears. He formed useful partnerships with Naman Dhir and Gurnoor Brar before taking complete control of the final phase.
There were chances for the West Indies to remove him. Rahul was dropped twice, but he made the most of those reprieves and continued to attack.
Naman, playing his maiden international innings, provided valuable support before being dismissed after an attacking cameo. Anshul Kamboj then came out firing, hitting two sixes and scoring 17 off nine balls before being run out.
Rahul reached his century from 80 balls, taking just 39 deliveries to move from fifty to three figures. He then exploded in the final overs, using powerful strokes and inventive shots to keep the West Indies bowlers under pressure.
Rahul smashed an 84-metre six off Alzarri Joseph to move into the 90s before bringing up his century with another six off Jayden Seales. He followed it with another maximum in the same over.
Rahul saved his best for the final over. He smashed Keemo Paul for two sixes and a four before finishing with a reverse scoop for two, ending unbeaten on 129 off 87 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes.
His assault helped India collect 105 runs in the final 10 overs and finish on 351/7. Rahul's unbeaten century and Rohit's 92 ensured India recovered emphatically after being reduced to 4/2 in the opening three overs.- Ends
