79/1 in six overs! Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer power West Indies to highest powerplay score against India in T20Is
India's decision to bowl first in the fourth T20I against West Indies backfired initially as the visitors launched an aggressive assault on the hosts' bowling attack. Captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer led the charge, helping West Indies match the joint-highest powerplay score against India in T20Is before Axar Patel and Prince Yadav struck to provide some relief to the hosts.
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field, hoping to put the West Indies batting lineup under pressure early. However, the visitors came out with an attacking approach, reaching 79/1 in the powerplay, the joint-highest powerplay score against India in T20Is, matching New Zealand's effort in Thiruvananthapuram earlier this year.
West Indies continued their assault after the powerplay, reaching 100 in just 7.4 overs. It was the joint-fastest team hundred against India in T20Is, matching West Indies' own effort at Lauderhill in 2016, when they reached the milestone without losing a wicket.
Shai Hope, Jewel Andrew give West Indies a flying start
West Indies openers Hope and Jewel Andrew immediately put India's bowlers under pressure. Arshdeep Singh conceded 17 runs in the second over, with Andrew smashing a six and a boundary to establish the visitors' attacking intent.
Hope joined the assault against Mayank Yadav, launching a free-hit over deep mid-wicket for six. The West Indies captain continued to find the boundary with clean striking, while Andrew took advantage of loose deliveries to keep the scoring rate high.
Axar Patel removes Jewel Andrew
India finally found a breakthrough in the fifth over when Axar Patel dismissed Andrew for 21 off 16 deliveries. The West Indies batter attempted a premeditated reverse-sweep but missed a slower delivery that struck him in line with the stumps. The on-field decision was upheld after a review, giving Axar his first wicket of the innings.
However, the breakthrough did little to slow the visitors, as Hope continued to attack and Hetmyer accelerated the scoring with a series of powerful strokes.
Shimron Hetmyer unleashes his power before Prince Yadav strikes
Hetmyer took the attack to India's bowlers, smashing Arshdeep for a six and two boundaries in an expensive over. He then targeted Axar with a well-timed cut before taking on Naman Dhir, who conceded 19 runs in his first over.
Hope also cleared the ropes against Axar and Naman, helping West Indies maintain their extraordinary scoring rate. The visitors reached 100 in just 7.4 overs, putting India's bowling attack under immense pressure.
India needed another breakthrough, and Prince Yadav delivered in the ninth over.
The pacer hurried Hetmyer with a sharp short-of-length delivery, forcing the left-hander into an ill-timed pull shot. The ball took the upper part of the bat and went straight back to Prince, who completed a comfortable return catch. Hetmyer departed for a blistering 33 off 12 deliveries, including four boundaries and two sixes.