Smriti Mandhana creates history in Australia with record-breaking knock in 3rd T20I

The Indian women's team is in Australia to play a 3-match T20I, ODI, and a one-game Test series. In the 3rd T20I match, star batter Smriti Mandhana slammed 82 off 55 balls, including eight boundaries and three sixes. She wreaked havoc on the bowling attack, scoring boundaries at a consistent rate.

With the knock, she scripted history to become the highest individual scorer by an Indian Women's batter in Australia across formats. Mandhana's knock helped India put up 176 runs in the first innings. She formed a 121-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues in the middle overs. Rodrigues scored 59 off 46 balls, including four boundaries. 

She anchored the innings well while Smriti took on the bowlers from the end. She looked in fine form, which is a good sign for the Indian team. For Australia, Annabel Sutherland claimed two wickets while Sophie Molineux and Kim Garth picked up a wicket each. 

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India win by 17 runs, seize series 2-1 against Australia

The Indian bowling attack did the magic in Adelaide as they defeated the hosts by 17 runs to claim the series, 2-1. Shree Charani and Shreyanka Patil picked up three wickets each, while the rest of the bowling line-up helped. The Australian cricketers failed to contribute with the bat, which is the main reason behind their defeat.

They lost consistent wickets, failed to form a partnership, and hence, lost the game. Ashleigh Gardner scored 57 runs in 45 balls, including five boundaries and one six. She didn't get support from the other end. The batters kept falling like a pack of cards. It was a good bowling display by the Indian bowlers that led to the series. Now, both teams will focus on the ODI series. 

For an incredible batting performance, Smriti Mandhana won the Player of the Match award. She mentioned that India had beaten Australia back in 2016, and now they have defeated them after ten long years in a T20I series in their own backyard.

"Jemi coming in and making me run all those twos, but yeah, I think really good partnership between Jemi and me. I think we did beat them in 2016 back when we had come here, but I think we've played T20 after a very long time in Australia, so beating them is really nice, but we will move on to the ODI series and not celebrate too much," said Mandhana at the post-match presentation.