T20 CHAMPS

T20 CHAMPS|T20 CHAMPS
Associated Press / Lynne Sladky|Associated Press / Lynne Sladky

West Indies conceded their three-match series to India at Lauderhill, Florida on Sunday after a thunderstorm stalled their run chase, leaving them with a 22-run defeat under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

In pursuit of 168 for victory at the Central Broward County Stadium, lighting and rain sent the players off the field with the regional team on 98 for four in the 16th over, still requiring 70 runs to win from 27 balls.

However, the rain never relented and when the contest was called off 45 minutes later, West Indies were well short of the score.

The defeat followed their four-wicket loos the day before at the same venue. They will now head to Guyana later this week for the final Twenty20 International trying to avoid yet another whitewash to the Indians.

Hoping to level the series, West Indies were set back early when they lost both openers, Evin Lewis and Sunil Narine with eight runs on the board.

All-rounder Rovman Powell then stepped up to stroke a top score of 54 — his second Twenty20 International half century and second in four innings — as he repaired the damage in 76-run third wicket partnership with left-hander Nicholas Pooran (19).

With the required run rate climbing to 12 runs per over, Pooran caved to the pressure and holed out in the deep off left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya (2-23).

And three balls later in the same over with just one run added, Powell was trapped LBW.

By then, the required run rate had climbed to over 13 runs an over when the weather stepped in and ended play.

Opener Rohit Sharma struck 67 off 51 deliveries as India, opting to bat first, got to 167 for five off their 20 overs.

Fast bowler Oshane Thomas (2-27) broke the stand when he had Sharma caught at cover.

In the first Twenty20, West Indies put on another dismal performance when they slipped to a four-wicket defeat.

In a low-scoring affair on a two-paced wicket, West Indies could only managed a paltry 95 for nine- their fifth lowest score in the shortest format of the game-punctuated with 79 dot balls.

When India batted, the team also struggled in the early part of the innings and was able to score 98 off 17.2 overs as they limped to victory.

West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer, left, reacts as he is bowled by India’s Navdeep Saini, right, during the first Twenty20 international cricket match, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, in Lauderhill, Fla.
Associated Press / Lynne Sladky