India Secures T20 Series Victory Over Australia in Adelaide Thriller
Australia's women's cricket team has suffered a 17-run defeat to India in the decisive third Twenty20 international, handing the visitors a 2-1 series triumph. The match unfolded on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, where India posted an imposing total of 5-176, establishing the highest women's T20 international score ever recorded at the historic venue.
Australia's Chase Stumbles After Promising Start
In response, Australia managed 9-159, losing momentum dramatically after their top three wickets tumbled within a devastating 13-ball period. The collapse included the dismissal of Australian great Ellyse Perry, who was playing her landmark 350th international match. Perry scored just one run before being bowled by spinner Shreyanka Patil, leaving the hosts reeling at 3-32 in the fourth over.
Australian captain Sophie Molineux expressed disappointment about the result, particularly given Perry's milestone. "It was a bit of a bugger we couldn't get the result for her tonight," Molineux said. "She's a special person, a special cricketer, she has done so much for the game and continues to."
Early Promise Fades Quickly
The Australian innings began brightly with openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney smashing 18 runs from the first over delivered by Renuka Singh Thakur. However, both batters fell within six balls of each other, with Voll making 10 and Mooney scoring six. Phoebe Litchfield and Ash Gardner then steadied the innings with a 31-run partnership, but Litchfield's dismissal for 26 from 17 balls left Australia struggling at 4-63 in the ninth over.
Gardner provided the main resistance for Australia, compiling a fighting 57 from 45 balls before she too was caught in the deep. Her departure triggered another Australian collapse of 4-15, effectively ending any realistic chance of victory.
"We actually thought we kept them to a good score, it was a pretty good wicket," Molineux reflected. "We just lost some pretty important wickets at the wrong point in time."
Indian Batting Dominance Sets Up Victory
Earlier, India's innings was built around a magnificent 120-run partnership between opener Smriti Mandhana and No.3 batter Jemimah Rodrigues. Mandhana top-scored with a superb 82 from 55 balls, reaching her half-century in just 38 deliveries by smashing Darcie Brown over the midwicket fence for six. Rodrigues contributed a valuable 59 from 46 balls as the pair powered India to 1-86 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Australia struck early when quick Kim Garth dismissed Shafali Verma for seven in the third over, but Mandhana and Rodrigues then took control. The partnership was finally broken in the 17th over when Mandhana lofted Annabel Sutherland to deep midwicket, where Gardner took a spectacular running catch. Sutherland finished with 2-34 from her four overs.
Looking Ahead to ODI Series and Test Match
The two cricketing nations will meet again on Tuesday in Brisbane for the first of three 50-over fixtures, followed by a Test match commencing March 6 at the WACA Ground in Perth. These matches will be particularly significant as they represent the final international appearances for former Australian captain Alyssa Healy before her retirement.
"(She) is going to bring an injection of some real excitement," Molineux said of Healy's return. "It's going to be her last four games for Australia and we're going to do everything possible to send her off on the right note."
The multi-format series trophy will be decided using a points system, with two points awarded for each T20 and ODI victory, and four points available for a Test match triumph. The teams now shift their focus to the longer formats as they continue their competitive rivalry in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the summer of women's cricket.
