The Indian women’s cricket team secured a 2-1 series victory against Australia after beating the host by 17 runs in the third game, which took place at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

Its victory in the third T20I was constructed on the back of a 121-run stand between Smriti Mandhana (82, 55b) and Jemimah Rodrigues (59, 46b) that propelled India to 176 for six in its 20 overs. The pair were brought to the crease after the early dismissal of Shafali Varma, and batted for 66 deliveries in a partnership that put the Australian bowling attack to the sword.

Richa Ghosh (18, 8b) was given a promotion to number four after Mandhana fell and packed a punch in her short cameo, but her dismissal triggered a late-innings slowdown as India added 13 for four in the final two overs.

Shreyanka Patil (three for 22) then led the way for India with the ball as it ripped through the Australian top-order to reduce it to 63 for four inside nine overs. Ashleigh Gardner (57, 45b) mounted a fightback for Australia but after she was sent back by an athletic catch in the outfield from Jemimah, it signalled the end of the Australian hopes.

N. Shree Charani (three for 32) and Arundhati Reddy (two for 35) were both among the wickets as India ultimately won by 17 runs.

This is only the second time India has secured a series victory over Australia—the Women in Blue last beat the Aussies in 2016, when the Mithali Raj-led side clinched a 2-1 win. That series was also held in Australia.

Ten years ago, the visiting Indian side won the opener by five wickets and the second by 10 (DLS method) to seal the series, while the Aussies denied it a clean sweep with a 15-run win in the final match.

Published on Feb 21, 2026