India registered a historic second bilateral T20I series victory over Australia with a 17-run win in the series-deciding third match on Saturday, 21 February, at Adelaide Oval. After opting to bat first, India posted their second-highest T20I total in the country, finishing on 176/6, riding on splendid knocks from Smriti Mandhana (82 off 55) and Jemimah Rodrigues (59 off 46).
In reply, Australia were restricted to 159/9 in their 20 overs as Shreyanka Patil (3/22) and Shree Charani (3/32) claimed three wickets apiece. As a result, India secured only their second bilateral series victory over Australia and inflicted a rare series defeat on their opponents after three years.
India last beat Australia in a bilateral series in 2016, while Australia’s previous T20I series defeat at home came in 2017 against New Zealand. India’s triumph also ended Australia’s run of seven successive T20I series victories, with their last series loss having come during the 2023 Ashes.
India’s defence began in the most bizarre fashion as Renuka Singh Thakur conceded 18 runs in her opening over. However, India’s bowlers quickly regained control as the young spinner Shreyanka Patil (3/22) and pace spearhead Renuka (1/29) tore through the top order to leave Australia reeling at 32 for 3.
Australia were immediately under pressure as openers Georgia Voll (10) and Beth Mooney (6) fell cheaply. Off-spinner Shreyanka struck in the second over to remove Voll, while veteran seamer Renuka accounted for Mooney in the third. Australia sank further into trouble when Ellyse Perry was clean bowled for 1 by Patil, leaving the hosts reeling at 32 for 3 inside four overs.
Ashleigh Gardner (57 off 45 balls) mounted a spirited fightback with a composed half-century, but her resistance was eventually broken when Arundhati Reddy struck in the 16th over to tilt the contest decisively in India’s favour. Young left-arm spinner Shree Charani (3/32) further underlined her credentials, claiming three crucial wickets to play a pivotal role in sealing India’s historic victory.
Earlier, India endured a slightly tricky start as Shafali Verma (7) departed early. Mandhana and World Cup hero Rodrigues then assumed control of the innings. The pair cut loose in the sixth over bowled by left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux, collecting three boundaries in a 14-run burst that firmly put India back on track.
Jemimah, Mandhana rescue India
At the end of the powerplay, India were 54 for 1. Both Mandhana and Rodrigues kept the scoreboard ticking, with the former in a particularly punishing mood. She took on leg-spinner Georgia Wareham in the ninth over — Wareham’s first — executing a powerful sweep that bisected deep square leg and deep midwicket to perfection.
Mandhana brought up her half-century in style, reaching the milestone off 38 balls with a six off pacer Darcie Brown. She swung across the line and connected sweetly with the second ball of the 12th over, sending it sailing over the ropes.
It was her 33rd fifty in international cricket, achieved in her 160th appearance. The century stand for the second wicket came up in just 66 balls, laying a strong platform for a late surge. However, Mandhana fell in the 17th over, dismissed by Annabel Sutherland as she holed out to deep midwicket. Ashleigh Gardner completed a well-judged running catch to bring the flourishing 121-run partnership to an end.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur promoted Richa Ghosh to No. 4, and the move paid dividends, as the wicketkeeper-batter struck a brisk cameo of 18 off just seven balls. Meanwhile, with the T20I leg concluded, India hold a two-point lead (India – 4 points | Australia – 2 points) in the multi-format series. The two sides will now lock horns in the three-match ODI series, which begins on 24 February.
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