New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) The Indian women’s team strengthened their position in the multi-format series with a 17-run victory in the third T20I at the Adelaide Oval, riding on a dominant batting partnership and timely strikes with the ball to outplay Australia.
After opting to bat, India overcame an early wobble to post a commanding 176/6. A wayward opening over from Darcie Brown, which included five wides, handed early momentum to the visitors before Australia briefly pulled things back through tidy spells from Ashleigh Gardner and Kim Garth, during which Shafali Verma was dismissed.
The innings, however, was defined by the 121-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. The pair accelerated through the PowerPlay, finishing it at 54/1 after a flurry of boundaries. Mandhana led the charge, bringing up her half-century with a towering six over mid-wicket in the 12th over. She continued to dictate terms with crisp fours and cleanly struck sixes before falling for 82 in the 17th over.
Rodrigues, reprieved on 49, went on to complete her fifty in the 18th over, anchoring the innings as Richa Ghosh provided the late flourish with an explosive 18 off seven balls. Though Annabel Sutherland stemmed the flow in the final over, conceding just three runs while claiming three wickets, India had already laid a formidable platform.
In reply, Australia’s chase began with intent, capitalising on an expensive first over from Renuka Singh. But the innings unravelled quickly. Shreyanka Patil, drafted into the XI in place of Kranti Gaud, made an immediate impact by dismissing Georgia Voll. Renuka then removed Beth Mooney, and Patil struck again to bowl Ellyse Perry in her milestone 350th international appearance, reducing the hosts to 32/3 inside four overs.
Phoebe Litchfield and Ashleigh Gardner attempted to rebuild, but Litchfield fell attempting an ambitious switch-hit. Gardner, though, kept Australia alive with a counterattacking 57, aided briefly by a dropped chance and a drizzle that seemed to quicken the outfield.
Her resistance ended when Rodrigues pulled off a sharp diving catch at deep mid-wicket. From there, Australia faltered. Grace Harris stepped on her stumps, Sophie Molineux was trapped lbw, and Patil capped a superb outing by dismissing Sutherland to finish with three wickets. Australia closed on 159/9, falling short despite flashes of fight, as India’s all-round performance sealed a deserved win.
The multi-format series now moves to the ODI leg, starting with the clash at The Gabba on February 24.
Brief Scores: India 176/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 82, Jemimah Rodrigues 59; Annabel Sutherland 2-34) beat Australia 159/9 in 20 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 57; Shreyanka Patil 3-22, Sree Charani 3-32) by 17 runs.
