Ranchi: West Indies captain Shai Hope's unbeaten 102, a blend of elegance and power, helped the visitors gatecrash India's party with a stunning six-wicket victory in the second T20I here on Friday.
The five-match series is now level at 1-1 after the West Indies pulled off their highest successful T20I chase against India, which was also the second-highest chase in the format.
Set a record target of 250, the West Indies rode on Hope's 45-ball knock, which featured 6 fours and 9 sixes, to complete the chase.
Hope received ample support from Sherfane Rutherford (84 off 37 balls; 7 fours, 7 sixes) and Romario Shepherd (34 off 13 balls) as the visitors overhauled the target in 18.3 overs.
For India, Sanju Samson roared back to form with a blistering 82 before Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma's rapid knocks powered the hosts to 249/5.
The West Indies' chase got off to a shaky start as Mayank Yadav, clocking speeds of over 140 kmph, struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer.
However, Hope and Rutherford tore into India's spin attack, which struggled to grip the ball amid heavy dew.
Hope, who had struck back-to-back centuries in the preceding ODI series before scoring a half-century in the first T20I, continued his rich vein of form with a 24-ball fifty.
He capped the chase by launching Axar Patel over the ropes to bring up his second T20I century.
Rutherford matched Hope's aggression with a 24-ball half-century as the pair added 120 runs in just 54 balls to revive the chase.
Rutherford was dropped on 38 when Mayank spilled a straightforward chance off Kuldeep Yadav.
The duo brought up their 100-run partnership in just 43 balls, clearing the ropes with ease.
Shepherd then provided the late flourish as the West Indies plundered 41 runs across the 17th and 18th overs to seal the victory.
Earlier, after four consecutive low scores, Samson smashed a 21-ball half-century, his ninth in T20Is, to set the tone for India's innings in an entertaining 97-run partnership with Ishan Kishan off 43 balls.
The stand helped India post their highest-ever T20I total against the West Indies.
The duo powered India to 139/1 in 11 overs at a run rate of more than 12, with Kishan contributing 43 off 22 balls.
However, off-spinner Roston Chase, returning to the attack during the middle overs, broke the partnership and claimed two wickets in successive overs.
Kishan and Shivam Dube (7) were bowled while attempting to play across the line. The move to promote Dube to No. 4 failed to pay off as he struggled to get going and fell after facing 10 balls.
Samson's thrilling knock ended in the 15th over when his ramp shot over deep backward point went straight to Kamil Pooran.
India lost 3 wickets for 23 runs in the middle overs, but skipper Shreyas Iyer, fresh from his maiden T20I century at Lucknow, carried his form into the match.
Iyer counter-attacked with a flurry of effortless strokes in his 18-ball 40, while Tilak remained unbeaten on 44 off 18 balls.
Tilak also crossed 5,000 T20 runs and kept the pressure on the West Indies with crisp, well-placed boundaries in an 83-run partnership with Iyer that came off just 32 balls.
India had followed the same aggressive template from the outset, with Abhishek Sharma finding his rhythm early. He charged at the bowlers as the hosts raced ahead at more than 10 runs an over after being asked to bat.
There was little assistance for the bowlers from the pitch, and Abhishek hammered spinner Akeal Hosein for a six after holding back for the first five balls.
Samson began unconvincingly, playing a series of miscued shots, and was lucky to survive on 6 when Pooran failed to hold on to a chance at cover off Hosein.
Another top edge flew away for four as fortune continued to favour the Kerala batter.
Samson made the most of his reprieves, taking apart Hosein with 3 sixes and 2 fours as India raced to 64/1 in 5 overs.
Abhishek (20 off 12 balls), meanwhile, departed while trying to break free after a few dot balls, mistiming a pull off Chase's short delivery for a comfortable catch to Gudakesh Motie at mid-on.
By then, Samson had raced into the 40s, and his luck continued. Motie put down another chance at mid-off, failing to hold on to a chipped drive.
Samson made the most of the reprieve, cracking 2 fours off Shepherd, with the second drive taking him to his half-century off just 21 balls.
