India Women concluded an exciting T20I series by winning the third and final match against Australia Women by 17 runs at Adelaide Oval. Batting first, India scored a competitive 176/6, then bowled tightly to limit Australia to 159/9. This victory secured India the T20I series 2-1 in a hard-fought series.
Smriti Mandhana shines with 82 runs
India’s innings was highlighted by a fantastic performance from Smriti Mandhana. She scored 82 runs off 55 balls, including eight fours and three sixes. Mandhana managed the innings well after Shafali Verma was dismissed cheaply for 7, maintaining the momentum during the powerplay.
Jemimah Rodrigues also contributed significantly with 59 runs off 46 balls, skillfully rotating the strike and finding gaps. Together, they established a vital partnership that laid the groundwork for a strong ending. A late burst from Richa Ghosh, who hit 18 runs off just 7 balls, helped India finish at 176/6 after 20 overs.
For Australia, Annabel Sutherland was the standout bowler with figures of 2/34. Kim Garth and Sophie Molineux took one wicket each, but struggled to contain Mandhana during the middle overs, which proved crucial.
Indian bowlers build pressure despite Gardner’s efforts
In their chase for 177, Australia started aggressively but lost key wickets early on. Georgia Voll made a quick 10, while Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry fell cheaply, putting pressure on the middle order. Phoebe Litchfield tried to counter with 26 runs off 17 balls, but India’s bowlers held their ground.
Ashleigh Gardner put up a strong fight, scoring 57 runs off 45 balls, including five fours and a six. She attempted to steady the innings but lacked support from other batters, which hindered Australia’s efforts.
Shreyanka Patil delivered a crucial performance, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs in four overs. Shree Charani also impressed with 3/32, striking at key moments to thwart Australia’s chase. Arundhati Reddy added two wickets, while Renuka Thakur contributed one. India’s combined bowling effort limited Australia to 159/9, falling short by 17 runs.
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