No result leaves series all square between India, West Indies

BENGALURU, India (AP):

A thrilling Twenty20 International series between India and West Indies ended in a 2-2 draw yesterday after rain forced a no-result in the fifth and final match.

Play finally got under way at 9:15 p.m., following a delay of nearly two hours at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with each innings reduced from 20 overs to nine.

India reached 118-5 in 7.4 overs before rain prevented any further play after West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl. Ishan Kishan top-scored with 30 from 10 balls, striking two sixes and three fours.

Shreyas Iyer contributed 22 off 14 balls, while Naman Dhir blasted an unbeaten 24 from just six deliveries, including three sixes, before the rain returned. Play was officially called off at 10:21 p.m., the latest possible start time that would have allowed West Indies to face a five-over innings.

India won the first and third T20 Internationals in Lucknow and Indore by eight wickets and 14 runs, respectively, but West Indies responded on both occasions.

The Caribbean side claimed victories in the second and fourth T20 Internationals in Ranchi and Hyderabad by six wickets and 24 runs, respectively.

West Indies captain Shai Hope scored two centuries during the series and was named player of the series.

India had earlier secured the three-match One-Day International series 2-1.

India will next travel to New Zealand for a busy tour featuring five T20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals and two Test matches, with the T20 series scheduled to begin on October 22 in Christchurch.

West Indies, meanwhile, will tour Bangladesh for a two-Test series beginning on October 28 in Dhaka.