A commanding batting display led by Smriti Mandhana, followed by a disciplined bowling effort, helped India Women seal the decider T20I against Australia Women by 17 runs, clinching the series in emphatic fashion.
Opting to bat first in the high-stakes finale, India posted a competitive 176 for 6, built around a sublime innings from Mandhana. The opener was in imperious touch from the outset, striking 82 off 55 deliveries, blending timing with authority as she anchored the Indian innings under pressure.
India, however, suffered an early setback when Shafali Verma fell for just seven runs, leaving the hosts searching for stability. That assurance came through a crucial 121-run partnership between Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, which completely changed the momentum of the innings.
Rodrigues complemented Mandhana perfectly, rotating strike with ease before accelerating late in her knock. She brought up a fluent half-century, eventually scoring 59 off 46 balls, ensuring India maintained a strong scoring rate through the middle overs. The stand laid the foundation for a total that would put Australia under pressure.
Late impetus came from Richa Ghosh, who delivered a blistering cameo of 18 off just seven balls, striking at an astonishing rate of over 250. Her fearless approach in the death overs pushed India well past the 170-mark.
Australia’s bowling effort was led by Annabel Sutherland, who claimed two vital wickets- removing both Mandhana and Rodrigues at crucial moments. Captain Sophie Molineux and Kim Garth chipped in with a wicket apiece, but the visitors struggled to contain India’s momentum overall.
Chasing 177 for victory, Australia found themselves on the back foot almost immediately. Early dismissals of Georgia Voll (10) and Beth Mooney (6) left the visitors reeling, and the pressure only mounted as wickets continued to fall. At 77 for 4 in just 9.4 overs, Australia were firmly on the ropes. Phoebe Litchfield attempted to rebuild the chase with a fighting 26, but her dismissal further dented Australia’s hopes.
The resistance came from Ashleigh Gardner, who played a counter-attacking knock of 57 runs, keeping the contest alive briefly. However, with little support from the lower order, the required run rate continued to climb.
India’s bowlers held their nerves superbly. Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani were outstanding, picking up three wickets each and applying constant pressure through the middle overs. Arundhati Reddy provided vital breakthroughs with two wickets of her own, ensuring Australia never regained control of the chase.
Australia eventually finished 17 runs short, handing India a memorable victory in the series decider. The win not only underlined India’s growing depth and confidence in the T20 format but also marked a significant series triumph against one of the strongest teams in women’s cricket.
