Finance
The series-deciding fifth and final T20I between South Africa and India washed out on Sunday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The match was delayed after the toss due to rain, but India eventually got a chance to bat.
However, after only 21 balls were bowled, rain returned to play spoilsport once more, and the match was declared washed out, and the series ended 2-2.
A steady downpour delayed the game by 50 minutes after it was called. It began to rain just as the game was about to begin.
The shortened match began at 7:50 PM but was called off after only 16 minutes of play, during which India scored 28 runs for the loss of two wickets.
With a couple of slower deliveries, Lungi Ngidi took the wickets of Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Kishan hit two sixes off Keshav Maharaj’s first over but was undone by Ngidi’s loopy slower delivery as he committed to the shot early and played all over it.
Gaikwad also failed to pick up a slower delivery and was holed out in the middle of the game before the heavens opened up again to end the series.
While fans hoped that the rain gods would relent, the game had to be called off, and India and South Africa could not be separated after all.
This means that the Men in Blue are still looking for a home series against South Africa, who have been unbeaten in the subcontinent since 2010.
That being said, Team India can be proud of their efforts, particularly in the last two games, with the focus now shifting to India’s next assignment against Ireland, a two-match T20I series that begins on Sunday, June 26.
