India defeated Australia by 17 runs in a high-stress match at the Adelaide Oval after a thrilling battle.

Australia’s lower order struggled mightily to reach the difficult goal of 159, but India’s bowlers held their composure until the very last overs to secure the victory.

Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana both made significant contributions to India’s batting, but it was Shreyanka Patil with the ball that ensured the side easily defeated the hosts.

With Shafali Verma (7 off 6) and Mandhana (82 off 55) getting the innings off to a fast start, India got off to a fairly steady start. But Australian bowlers put up a fight, and the former fell swiftly.

India won thanks to a 121-run partnership between Mandhana and Rodrigues (59 off 46), who stabilized the ship. The batting combination was kept intact by Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, even though the vice captain was only 18 runs away from a well-earned century.

The Women in Blue set a manageable target for the home team thanks to the wicketkeeper-batter’s seven-ball 18-ball cameo and subsequent mini-collapse in the last over.

Australia’s chase got off to a rough start when Renuka Thakur dismissed Beth Mooney (6) in the second over after she fell early. Renuka Singh’s amazing catch allowed Shreyanka Patil to dismiss Georgia Voll in the third over, marking yet another significant breakthrough.

Then, Ashleigh Gardner (57) and Phoebe Litchfield (26), working together, put up a fierce fight. The highlight of Australia’s chase was Gardner’s knock, which kept the necessary run rate under control with five boundaries and a six.

Nevertheless, wickets kept falling at regular intervals, with captain Sophie Molineux (6) being bowled leg before wicket by Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani.

The strain caused Australia’s middle order to collapse. The chase stalled as they lost wickets quickly after Annabel Sutherland’s brief burst of activity. Despite appearing assured, Grace Harris was removed by hit-wicket.

Australia was at 143/9 after Sutherland was dismissed for a crucial knock of 14 by Shreyanka Patil, who delivered another devastating blow.

Then, in the last over, Deepti Sharma came back to bowl a calm spell, conceding just five runs as the visitors held the hosts to 150/9 and won by 17 runs.

India now leads the multi-format series 4-2, and the two teams will face off in three ODIs and a single Test.

Brief Scores:
India 176/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 82, Jemimah Rodrigues 59; Annabel Sutherland 2-34, Kim Garth 1-25)
Australia 159/9 in overs (Ashleigh Gardner 57, Phoebe Litchfield 26; Shreyanka Patil 3-22, Shree Charani 3-32)