West Indies lose series after tough run chase

An unbeaten half-century from Rishabh Pant (52*) that included an 88-run partnership with Venkatesh Iyer (33) in the final seven overs overs of India's first innings in the second T20I against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, meant the hosts sealed a series win against a dangerous visiting unit.

Those runs proved invaluable after the West Indies, chasing a challenging 187, ended on 178-3.

After a confident start from India, spinner Roston Chase, pulled things back, restricting India's big hitters like Virat Kohli, to just about a run a ball.

Still, Pant and Iyer would inject some much-needed impetus into the innings, leaving the Indians at a competitive 186-5, against Chase, who ended with figures of 3-25.

When the West Indies bat, Rovman Powell, 68*, and Nicholas Pooran, 62, did some damage after a very slow start.

That damage was curtailed by the last six overs, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 1-29, and Harshal Patel, 0-46. In those last six overs, the pair successfully defended 36, with Bhuvneshwar accounting for the wicket of Pooran.

The three-match series now stands at 2-0 with the Indians having won the first by six wickets. The third T20I in the series takes place on Sunday.