Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues put up a century partnership that powered India to a 17-run victory over Australia in the thrid and final T20I in Adelaide on Saturday. This was India’s first bilateral T20I series win over Australia in a decade.
Opting to bat first, Mandhana smashed 82 off 55 balls while Rodrigues scored 59 off 46 deliveries as India put up 176 for 6 in 20 overs. Moreover, the 121-run partnership between the two was the highest for the second wicket in WT20Is, breaking the previous best of 98 runs between Mithali Raj and Punam Raut.
Shreyanka Patil’s inclusion in this match proved worthy as she finished with figures of three for 22 while pacer Renuka Singh picked a wicket to leave Australia reeling at 32 for 3. The hosts never recovered from the early blows and were eventually restricted to 159 for 9 to hand India a historic 2-1 series win, their first T20I series win in Australia since 2016. Not to forget the contribution of the young left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who finished with excellent figures of three for 32.
India’s innings had a jittery start as Shafali Verma (7) fell early before Mandhana and Rodrigues put up a crucial stand. In the sixth over off Sophie Molineux, India collected 14 runs which included three boundaries. At the end of the powerplay, India were 54 for 1.
Mandhana notched up her fifty off 38 balls while reaching the milestone with a six off Darcie Brown. It was Mandhana’s 33rd half-century in T20Is. The century run partnership came off 66 balls before Mandhana fell in the 17th over, dismissed by Sutherland. Richa Ghosh was promoted up the order and the move paid off as the keeper-batter hit a fluent 18 off seven balls.
India struck early and pushed Australia onto the back foot. Openers Georgia Voll (10) and Beth Mooney (6) were both back in the pavilion within the first three overs. Offspinner Shreyanka removed Voll in the second over and Renuka Thakur followed it up by dismissing Mooney an over later.
The slide continued when Ellyse Perry was bowled for just 1 by Patil, leaving Australia struggling at 32 for 3 inside four overs. The early blows left the home side searching for stability.
Ashleigh Gardner tried to turn things around with a fighting 57 off 45 balls. But just when Australia hoped for a comeback, Arundhati Reddy broke through in the 16th over, shifting the momentum back in India’s favour.
