Adelaide: In a historic triumph, India’s women’s cricket team scripted a memorable 2-1 T20I series victory over Australia on Australian soil, defeating the hosts by 17 runs in the decisive third match at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Opting to bat first, India posted a competitive 176/6 in 20 overs, powered by a brilliant 82 off 55 balls from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. The left-handed opener smashed eight fours and three sixes, anchoring a crucial 121-run second-wicket partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, who contributed a fluent 59 off 46 balls. Mandhana’s knock steered the innings and shattered her own six-year-old record for the highest individual score by an Indian woman in Australia (previously 66 in 2020 at MCG). The result was her 33rd T20I half-century and eighth against Australia — a record in itself.
Despite Ashleigh Gardner’s valiant 57, Australia, chasing 177, collapsed to 159/9. India’s spinners Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani picked three wickets each to seal the win.
This marks India’s first bilateral T20I series triumph in Australia in a decade (since 2016) and the first as a visiting team in the format on Australian soil. Mandhana, named Player of the Match, said after the game: “Beating Australia in Australia is something really special. I’m really happy for the team and glad that I could contribute.”
The victory gives India a 4-2 lead in the multi-format series, with the ODIs next.