Rain ends Bengaluru decider, India and West Indies share series

India had raced to 118 for 5 in just 7.4 overs, then the rain returned and ended the Bengaluru final before West Indies could bat. The fifth T20 match was called off on Saturday, October 17, leaving the five-match series tied 2-2. A crowd that waited through hours of rain got less than an hour of play, but plenty of hitting before the covers came back on. ^2,11

That 118-run burst began after West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to bowl in a match cut from 20 overs per side to nine. India’s Ishan Kishan smashed 30 from 10 balls, including two sixes, while Sanju Samson made 16 from seven. Shreyas Iyer added 22, and Naman Dhir finished unbeaten on 24 from just six balls. Rain stopped play at 10:03 p.m.; officials called off the match after the time allowed for a five-over West Indies chase passed. ^6,11

The 2-2 result reflected a series in which neither side could hold a lead. India won the first and third matches, and West Indies answered with wins in the second and fourth. West Indies captain Shai Hope scored two centuries and was named player of the series. The rain denied both teams a final chance to settle the match on the field, and denied West Indies a chance to win a series in India. ^2,15

India’s next stop is New Zealand, where its five-match T20 series starts in Christchurch on October 22. The tour also includes five one-day matches and two Tests. West Indies are due in Bangladesh for two Tests beginning October 28 in Dhaka. The Bengaluru match had no winner, so the shared trophy ends the series. ²