West Indies pulled off a remarkable run-chase on Friday to level the T20 series against India at 1-1 and set up an intriguing contest in Sunday's third T20I at Holkar Stadium, Indore.
Shai Hope played yet another starring role as he led from the front with an unbeaten 102 as the Windies completed the second-highest successful chase in T20Is, reaching 252-4 in pursuit of India's 249-5 with nine balls to spare.
It was a fine response from the tourists after they were dismissed for 171 in an eight-wicket defeat in the opening T20I, which came on the back of India's 2-1 success in the three-match one-day international series.
Friday's result maintained a perfect record of five from five on this white-ball tour for the team batting second, which have not been particularly close either with India's three victories all by margins of eight wickets, while the Windies have won by margins of six and five wickets.
India v West Indies Third T20I Tips Summary
Best Bet - West Indies Most Match Sixes @ 12/5
Alternative Bet - Shai Hope - West Indies Top Batter @ 21/10
Bet Builder Tip - Shai Hope to score Over 27.5 Runs, Sherfane Rutherford to Score 2+ Sixes, Shreyas Iyer to score Over 25.5 Runs, Mayank Yadav to take 1+ Wicket @ 7/1
India v West Indies Third T20I prediction
Best Bet: West Indies Most Match Sixes @ 12/5
West Indies do look appealing at 3/1 in the match betting to surprise India again, bearing in mind they successfully chased down 250 on Friday, but there is an obvious element of risk given they were beaten by eight wickets in the first T20 just three days prior.
However, the tourists also look good value to strike the most sixes in Indore at 12/5, given they have won that particular match bet in both games already and the shorter boundaries at Holkar Stadium could play right into their hands.
The Windies cleared the fence eight times in posting 171 in Lucknow in the series opener with the hosts striking seven in response, and while India smashed 13 maximums in the second game in Ranchi, the tourists clubbed a whopping 20 in return.
The game situation will affect a batter's mindset but the Windies are not particularly shy in going for the big shot and with two big hitters in especially good nick, they look a very attractive underdog at 12/5 to lead the six count for a third successive match.
Alternative Bet - Shai Hope West Indies Top Batter @ 21/10
While the price doesn't look especially big in this market, there are very obvious reasons for it and the West Indies' skipper still looks appealing at 21/10 to lead the way for his side yet again.
After making a slow start to the tour with just 12 in the first ODI, Hope could not have done much more to turn the tide in his side's favour as he struck 104 in the second game - one of three Windies' centurions - before leading his men to a consolation win in the third with a sensational unbeaten 162.
He opened the T20 series with 52 in Lucknow, with Sherfane Rutherford top-scoring with 56, before his brilliant ton on Friday helped level the series and he simply could not be in much better form.
Rutherford looks an attractive alternative at 7/1 having followed up his opening half-century with 84 on Friday, but he was given a life in Ranchi and bats much lower down the order, while others have not shown enough as yet. On current form, Hope is a worthy favourite.
India v West Indies Bet Builder Tip
- Shai Hope to score Over 27.5 Runs
- Sherfane Rutherford to Score 2+ Sixes
- Shreyas Iyer to score Over 25.5 Runs
- Mayank Yadav to take 1+ Wicket
Pays 7/1
Shai Hope could not be in better form and having registered knocks of 52 and 102 not out, on the back of 104 and an unbeaten 162 in the ODI series, 28 runs looks well within reach.
Sherfane Rutherford is in good nick too for the tourists and while he bats lower down the order, he has made telling contributions of 56 and 84 which have included 10 maximums, three in Lucknow and seven in Ranchi.
Shreyas Iyer has found his mojo in this series, clubbing a 43-ball 102 to lead his side to victory in the first T20 before smashing 40 off 18 balls as India posted 249 in the second. He may well get pushed back up the order too so another 26 runs is not beyond reach.
While it is perhaps not a series for the bowlers, Mayank Yadav has certainly made an impression, taking 1-40 in the first T20 and 3-36 on Friday. With the Windies top order struggling, he can claim another victim on Sunday.
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Key Match Stats
- India won the first T20I by eight wickets, chasing down 171 with more than five overs to go
- West Indies pulled off the second-highest run chase in T20Is when making 252-4 in response to India's 249-5 in the second T20I
- Shai Hope has scored 52 and 102 not out to lead the run-scoring stats, while he has also struck the most sixes (11)
- Shreyas Iyer is India's top scorer with 142 coming off just 61 balls faced, striking 13 fours and nine sixes
- Sherfane Rutherford has also hit three figures with an aggregate of 140 from 71 balls, including 13 fours and 10 sixes
- Roston Chase and Mayank Yadav have both taken four wickets so far, while Naman Dhir also boasts a three-wicket haul from the first T20
Tactics, Form and Team News
Nitish Kumar Reddy could come in as a right-handed batting option for India, with Shivam Dube at risk of losing his place in the team.
India predicted line-up: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (capt.), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.
After their win in Ranchi, it is unlikely that the West Indies mix up their starting XI.
West Indies predicted line-up: Shai Hope (capt. & wk), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Shamar Springer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
