Smriti Mandhana described the sensation of defeating Australia in their backyard as ‘truly special’ after India’s women scripted a 17-run triumph in the third T20I to wrap up the series 2-1. Her 82-run knock off 55 balls was the cornerstone of the victory in Adelaide.
The partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored 59 off 46, proved pivotal, adding 121 runs for the second wicket. ‘Jemimah’s aggression helped me get set, and contributing to the series win feels great,’ Mandhana shared, beaming with pride.
Harmanpreet Kaur set the tone by opting to bat first, a call vindicated by the total of 176/6. Mandhana’s composed yet destructive batting set a high bar, while Australia’s pursuit never gained momentum.
Despite Ashley Gardner’s fighting 57, the chase derailed as Shri Charani and Shreyanka Patil shared six wickets economically. Australia folded at 159/9, gifting India a confidence-boosting series victory.
Mandhana kept the team grounded, stating no lavish celebrations are planned. ‘We’re happy, but focused on the ODIs ahead,’ she concluded, as India eyes extending their dominance in the white-ball formats.