(ESPN) West Indies’ remarkable limited-overs tour of India ended in a damp squib as persistent rain in Bengaluru denied the teams a decider in the five-match T20I series. It was still a significant result, ending India’s winning streak at home at 12 series and four years. Even in the ODIs, West Indies chased down 350 in the only match they got to bat second even though they lost 2-1.
The excellent drainage facilities at M Chinnaswamy Stadium allowed for the match to start practically as soon as it stopped raining as a nine-over contest. West Indies won the toss, put India in, but only 7.4 overs of cricket was possible.
Blinders from Ishan Kishan and Naman Dhir led India to 118 for 5 in that brief period of play. Kishan hit two sixes in his 10-ball 30, and Dhir sent the ball into the crowd three times in his unbeaten 24 off six.
Surprisingly West Indies didn’t bowl Roston Chase, the leading wicket-taker in the series. Shamar Springer was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 1.4-0-17-2.
Had the rain relented and allowed for a five-over chase, West Indies’ target would have been 84. More importantly it would have allowed for Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl for the first time in international cricket since 2022. He might even have been allowed two overs as one bowler is allowed to bowl two overs if a T20 innings is reduced to five overs.
It was not to be. However, Bhuvneshwar was also on the flight, scheduled next morning, to New Zealand where India play the first of five T20Is on Thursday.
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