Mandhana, Shreyanka shines as India clinch T20I series

India added two more points to their multi-format series lead by winning the third T20I at the Adelaide Oval by a comfortable 17 runs. India reached 176/6 thanks to an impressive 121-run partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues (59) and Smriti Mandhana (82) before making early breakthroughs with the ball strengthened their position. Through Ashleigh Gardner's 57, Australia fought back, but they were unable to repair the initial damage. Darcie Brown started with a bad over after India decided to bat first. He gave up five wides and a boundary to get the visitors going. Australia became more rigid as a result of Gardner and Kim Garth's disciplined overs, during which Shafali Verma was fired. However, Rodrigues joined Mandhana at the crease to initiate the acceleration. They scored three fours in the sixth over to propel India to 54/1 and finish the PowerPlay on a high note after scoring boundaries in the third and fourth overs, respectively. Regular boundaries and judicious strike rotation helped the partnership thrive. With a six over midwicket in the 12th over, Mandhana reached her fifty, and she continued to attack with two more fours and sixes before falling to Annabel Sutherland in the 17th over. While Richa Ghosh's seven-ball, 18-run cameo propelled India at the end, Rodrigues, who had been dropped in the 15th over, scored her fifty in the 18th over. India only managed to score three runs and lose three wickets in the final over, but Sutherland contained the damage. Australia responded with a rollicking start caused by Renuka Singh Thakur's indisciplined 18-run opening over. However, after losing three wickets in three overs, they were early derailed. Shreyanka Patil, who took Kranti Gaud's place in India's XI, bowled Georgia Voll out in the first over. In the subsequent over, Renuka had Beth Mooney holing out to deep backward square leg. Shreyanka bowled Elleyse Perry in the fourth over of her historic 350th international match, leaving Australia on 32/3. With their 31-run partnership, Phoebe Litchfield and Gardner promised to rebuild, but in the ninth over, Litchfield failed to hit a switch-hit and holled out to long-off. After Amanjot Kaur dropped Gardner off her own bowling, India missed a chance to really take the lead. Gardner brought up fifty with a boundary in the 16th over, despite the fact that Georgia Wareham fell in the 13th over. Australia also appeared to benefit from a light drizzle, which accelerated a rather sluggish and sandy outfield and made the ball skid more easily on to the bat. It took a brilliant diving catch from Rodrigues at deep mid-wicket later in the same over to see Gardner's return. After that, Australia lost their way, and Grace Harris ended up stepping on her own stumps in the next over. Four balls later, Sophie Molineux was caught LBW. Shreyanka took a third wicket when she caught Sutherland in the first over, reducing Australia to 159/9 in 20 overs. The multi-format series will now begin with the ODI leg on February 24 at The Gabba.