India Women finished a thrilling T20I series with a 17-run win over Australia Women in the final match at Adelaide Oval. Choosing to bat first, India set a target of 176/6 and then managed to limit Australia to 159/9. This victory allowed India to take the three-match T20I series 2-1 in a competitive showdown between two leading teams.
Smriti Mandhana shines with a standout 82
The Indian innings was anchored by a fantastic performance from Smriti Mandhana, who scored 82 runs from 55 balls, including eight boundaries and three sixes. Following Shafali Verma‘s early dismissal for 7, Mandhana effectively maintained the momentum during the powerplay.
Jemimah Rodrigues supported her well with a stylish 59 off 46 balls, consistently rotating the strike and hitting the gaps. Their crucial partnership laid a solid foundation for a strong finish, complemented by a quick knock from Richa Ghosh, who added 18 runs off just 7 balls, helping India reach 176/6 at the end of 20 overs.
Annabel Sutherland was the standout bowler for Australia, finishing with figures of 2/34, while Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux took one wicket each. However, the Australian bowlers struggled to contain Mandhana during the crucial middle overs, which was a key factor in the match.
Indian bowlers hold strong against Ashleigh Gardner
In pursuit of 177, Australia Women started aggressively but lost key wickets at vital times. Georgia Voll scored a quick 10, but both Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry fell early, adding pressure to the middle order. Phoebe Litchfield attempted a counterattack with 26 runs off 17 balls, but India’s bowlers maintained tight control.
Ashleigh Gardner battled hard, scoring 57 off 45 balls, which included five fours and a six. She worked to stabilize the innings but lacked strong partnerships to support her efforts, impacting Australia’s chances.
Shreyanka Patil had a pivotal performance with the ball, claiming 3/22 in her four overs. Shree Charani also impressed with 3/32, taking crucial wickets to derail Australia’s chase. Arundhati Reddy contributed with two wickets, while Renuka Thakur added one more. India’s well-rounded bowling display restricted Australia to 159/9, falling 17 runs short.
Here’s how fans reacted
