Australia has gone down to India in the T20 stanza of the multi-format series after a blistering batting display set up the touring side for a stirring 17-run win in Ellyse Perry’s 350th on Saturday night.
India opener Smriti Mandhana and No.3 Jemimah Rodrigues supercharged its team to a record 6-176 total at Adelaide Oval after electing to bat first at the coin toss.
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Australia lost 3-32 early in the run chase, including the big wicket of Perry in her milestone match, before Ash Gardner struck 57 off 45 to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.
But it wasn’t enough Australia were held to 9-159 after 20 overs to go down 2-1 (4-2 points) in the series.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs India third T20I scorecard
Georgia Wareham (12) and Annabel Sutherland (14) contributed late to try and steer home the unlikely run chase.
Perry, who became the first women to play 350 games for Australia, was out bowled in the fourth over after missing a turning delivery coming down the wicket.
It was India off-spinner Shreyanka Patil (3-22) who claimed the big scalp in her return to the side.
Shree Charani (3-32) and Arundhati Reddy (2-35) were also influential with the ball to help steer India to the crucial win as attention now turns to three ODIs and a one-off Test to complete the series.
Mandhana’s crushing 82 off 55 set her new highest score for T20 internationals in Australia, beating her previous best of 66.
It was also the 29-year-old’s 33rd international fifty in the format in a knock which featured 11 boundaries, including three sixes.
Rodrigues’ 59 off 46 was her first T20 international fifty in Australia and the 15th of her short-form career.
Australia allrounder Annabel Sutherland led with the ball with 2-34 in what a largely expensive showing from Shelley Nitschke’s bowling cohort.
Quick bowler Kim Garth was the most economical with 1-25 from three overs, going at 8.3 an over.
AUS end T20 world cup with win | 01:09
PERRY CLASS
There was a big cheer around Adelaide Oval when Perry pulled one in just before the boundary rope to save two runs for Australia in the ninth over of the first innings.
Perry’s one-handed stop at long on put an end to a flying ball off the middle of Mandhana’s bat that was destined for the boundary.
The milestone allrounder polished off her work in the field with a run out from the final delivery to stop India from getting a second run.
SWITCH HIT AND OUT
Australia No.3 Phoebe Litchfield whacked a switch-hit for four in the ninth over for some fireworks but the same risky shot one ball later brought about her exit from the crease.
Litchfield was building nicely and looked like giving the target a good shot before departing for 26 off 17.
PATIL’S BIG WICKET
Brought into the side, Patil made the most of the call up with a huge wicket in the second over of the run chase.
Patil was called on to bowl the second over after India’s first went for an expensive 18.
The call from captain Harmanpreet Kaur paid off with Patil getting the big wicket of the in-form Georgia Voll for 10 off five after the opener top edged attempting to sweep.
Voll scored a career-high 88 in the game prior on Thursday.
Australia T20I squad
Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India T20I squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil
February 24: First ODI, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 2:50pm AEDT
February 27: Second ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
March 1: Third ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
Australia ODI squad
Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India ODI squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Uma Chetry, Harleen Deol
March 6-9: Test match, WACA Ground, 4:20pm AEDT (D/N)
Australia Test squad
Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India Test squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare
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