Windies claim T20 series in Florida

Umpires called off the match around 2 pm Eastern Caribbean Time after a delay caused by rain and concerns about soggy areas at the top of the bowlers run-up.

India were two overs into the chase, at 15 without loss, after bowling out West Indies for 143 in 19.4 overs, in a match which also started nearly an hour late because of “technical reasons”.

Opener Johnson Charles was the top scorer for West Indies with a steady knock of 43, in a dull innings, which saw cameos of 19 from Lendl Simmons and 18 from captain Carlos Brathwaite.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who came in as a replacement for Stuart Binny, was the star of the Indian bowling attack claiming three wickets for 24 runs.

West Indies won the two match series 1-0 after their narrow one run win in the opening fixture on Saturday.

The lengthy delay in starting the game appeared to be as a result of technical glitches relating to the broadcast feed.

Sources have linked the technical failure to the inability of the broadcasters to receive the proper satellite link resulting in the global delay of the broadcast and ultimately a delay in the start of the game.

The prospects of an outcome to the game were significantly reduced when the rains came for about 20 minutes from around 12.40 pm Eastern Caribbean Time with India seemingly enroute to victory after containing the West Indians.

Shortly after the rain subsided, the wicket was ready for play as well as parts of the outfield which drained well. However the captains were concerned about particular areas at the top of the bowlers run-up that did not dry up and the game was soon called off.

Charles, who has been in terrific form since the ICC T20 World Cup, got West Indies off to a blistering start scoring 43 off 24 balls in the first five overs.

He found the boundary five times and cleared the ropes twice but perished as Mishra’s first victim, with the tide turning in favour of the Indians.

Misrah, who replaced Stuart Binny, led a better organised Indian attack that choked the West Indian batsmen with wickets falling at regular intervals.

Mohammed Shami (2-31), Ravi Ashwin (2-11) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-26) picked up two wickets each and deprived West Indies from building any significant partnerships .

Simmons and Marlon Samuels went in quick succession but West Indies kept coming hard at the Indians with Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, each dis- missed for 13 after both cleared the boundary once.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES vs INDIA

West Indies inns:

J Charles c Rahane b Mishra.......... 43

E Lewis c Mishra b Shami................. 7

M Samuels c Dhoni b Bumrah .......... 5

L Simmons st Dhoni b Ashwin......... 19

A Fletcher b Bumrah.......................... 3

K Pollard LBW b Ashwin.................. 13

A Russell c Kohli b Kumar............... 13

DJ Bravo b Mishra............................. 3

C Brathwaite b Mishra..................... 18

S Narine not out ................................ 9

S Badree b Shami ............................. 1

EXTRAS (LB4, W4, NB1)................. 9

Total (19.4 overs)......................... 143

Fall of wickets: 24; 50; 76; 76; 92; 98;111; 123; 133; 143.

BOWLING: Kumar 4-0-36-1 (W2); Shami 2.4-0-31-2; Mishra 4-0-24-3 (W1) Jadeja 2-0-11-0; Ashwin 3-0-11-2 (W1);Bumrah 4-0-26-2 (NB1).

India inns:

R Sharma not out ............................ 10

A Rahane not out............................... 4

EXTRAS (B1).................................... 1

Total for no wicket (2 overs)......... 15

Did not bat: V Kohli, KL Rahul, MSDhoni, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, B Kumar, A Mishra, M Shami, J Bumrah

BOWLING: Russell 1-0-7-0, Badree1-0-7-0.

Result: Match abandoned.

Series: West Indies won the 2-match series 1-0.