Adelaide: Half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Jemima Rodriguez helped India win the 3rd and final T20I against Australia by 17 runs at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to bat first paid off as the visitors amassed a mammoth total of 176/6 in their 20 overs, aided by a formidable second-wicket partnership between Mandhana and Rodriguez.
The touring side had a mixed start to their innings as they lost right-arm opener Shafali Verma (seven) for just 19 in the third over.
After stumbling early on, Rodriguez joined Mandana in the middle and the duo put on a 121-run partnership for the second wicket to take India to a great position.
The partnership eventually culminated in the dismissal of Mandana in the 17th over, who scored a top-scoring 82 off 55 balls with eight fours and three sixes, earning him the Man of the Match award.
Mandana’s dismissal sparked a slump as India lost four more wickets in the remaining 22 balls, including set batsman Rodriguez, who scored 59 off 46 balls with the help of 4 fours.
Annabelle Sutherland was Australia’s best bowler with 2 for 34 from her four overs, while Sophie Molyneux and Kim Garth picked up a wicket each.
Chasing a tough target of 177 runs, they managed 159/9 in 20 overs despite a brave half-century from Ashley Gardner.
The middle-order batsman struggled for Australia as he top scored with 57 off 45 balls with 5 fours and a six.
Apart from her, Phoebe Litchfield (26), Sutherland (14), Georgia Wareham (12) and Georgia Wall (10) could accumulate double figures for Australia.
Sri Sarani and Sreyanka Patil took 3 wickets each, Arundhati Reddy took two wickets and Renuka Singh took one wicket for India.
India’s 17-run victory helped them clinch the three-match series 2-1 and marked their second win in Australia.