Shai Hope played one of the great ODI innings in India, and the West Indies record chase in Mullanpur on October 3, 2026 denied India a series sweep. Chasing 348, the visitors finished on 352/5 in 48.2 overs, winning by five wickets with ten balls to spare in the third and final ODI.
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India Post 347/7 After Winning the Toss
India won the toss and chose to bat first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. KL Rahul led the innings with an unbeaten 129 off 87 balls, powering the hosts to 347/7 in their 50 overs. On most days, a total that size in a one-day game is close to match-winning, and India had reason to feel in control at the halfway stage.
Hope’s Unbeaten 162 Flips the Match
Hope had other plans. The West Indies batter finished unbeaten on 162 off 143 balls and was named Player of the Match. His innings anchored the chase from start to finish, giving the visitors a platform that let the other batters play around him. ESPNcricinfo’s match report framed it as a record chase, with Hope’s 162 not out edging Rahul’s 129 not out in a duel of two unbeaten hundreds.
| Detail | Scorecard |
|---|---|
| India | 347/7 (50 overs) |
| West Indies | 352/5 (48.2 overs) |
| Result | West Indies won by 5 wickets, 10 balls remaining |
| Player of the Match | Shai Hope, 162* (143) |
| Top Score for India | KL Rahul, 129* (87) |
| Venue | Mullanpur |
India Still Win the Series 2-1
The defeat does not change the series outcome. India had already clinched the three-match series 2-1, helped by a historic 406-run chase in the second ODI in Guwahati, where captain Shubman Gill struck a double century. Gill was named Player of the Series after scoring 334 runs across the three matches at an average of 167.
For the West Indies, the win is a significant way to end a tour in which they were otherwise outplayed. A chase of 348 in India, against a batting line-up that had just pulled off a 406-run chase of its own, is the kind of result that tends to get remembered long after the series result is forgotten.
What It Means Going Forward
For India, the loss is a reminder that the bowling attack remains the area to tighten, even with a batting unit capable of producing totals of 347 and chasing 406 within the same series. Giving up 352 with ten balls to spare will draw questions from selectors and fans alike, particularly about death-overs options and how the side defends a big total under pressure.
For the West Indies, Hope’s form is the headline. An unbeaten 162 in a chase, in Indian conditions, against a strong attack, is a statement that will carry weight in selection and franchise conversations alike. The rest of the tour, which also includes T20Is, now begins with the visitors carrying real momentum from the final ODI.
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The numbers underline how unusual the evening was. Two unbeaten centuries, a combined 699 runs for the loss of just twelve wickets, and a chase completed with ten balls in hand made for a one-day game that stayed tense deep into the final ten overs. Neither side could relax, and the contest was settled by one batter refusing to get out.
Fans who watched the match will likely remember it as a high-quality finish to an entertaining series, rather than a dead rubber, which is exactly what the format needs more of. With the T20Is to follow, both camps will now look to carry that intensity into the shorter game.
Source: Cricketnews
