India Women vs Australia Women 3rd T20I Highlights: Australia chased down a 148-run target in just 18.4 overs to defeat India by seven wickets, and clinch three-match T20I series 2-1. Richa Ghosh's brisk 34 saved India Women the blushes as they posted 147 for six against Australia in their series-deciding third and final T20I on Tuesday. India squandered a rollicking start to lose four wickets for six runs and were tottering at the halfway stage after Shafali Verma (26) and Smriti Mandhana (29) set the stage for a strong first-innings total. India were 51 for 1 after the powerplay but slipped to 66/4 after 10 overs losing wickets in a cluster. But Ghosh's knock gave India a fresh lease of life as India added 81 runs in the second half.
INDW vs AUSW, 3rd T20I, Live Updates
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Alyssa Healy collects the trophy and joins her teammates for the celebrations. The Aussies are all smiles as they pose for pictures with the trophy. With this, we have come to the end of Australia Women's tour of India. Australia Women's next assignment will be a three-match T20I series at home against South Africa Women, starting on Saturday, 27th January. Rest assured, there is lots of cricketing action to look forward to in the meantime. Cheers!
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The skipper of Australia Women is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for her efforts with the bat. She says that she is not sure about getting the award as the bowlers have been outstanding throughout the series and she feels really proud of the group. She says that whenever the team is chasing a total, it is important to get off to a good start and get the run rate down as soon as possible. She adds that they have got 9 bowling options, but their ability to trust only those 5 in the last 5 games is outstanding. She mentions that she is really lucky to have a really talented group of people.
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Annabel Sutherland is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her brilliance with the ball. She says that it was nice to get a complete performance out there from the group and nice to finish off with a series win. She adds that they reviewed the first game and they didn't play the way everyone would have liked and she is proud of the way the girls came back after that. On her slower balls, she says that she was just trying to trust her skills.
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The captain of India Women, Harmanpreet Kaur says that they played good cricket in the last month and credits the opposition for being better. She says that white-ball cricket is fast and they have to be on their toes throughout. She adds that fielding is an area where they could improve during the break and come back strongly. She adds that the youngsters are great and have merged well with the team. She mentions that it is always a tough contest and is fun to play against Australia Women.
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Time for the presentation ceremony...
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Beth Mooney is in for a chat. She says that it was a team effort and it feels amazing to win the series. She adds that it is about getting better every game and getting the team to perform as one unit. She credits the bowlers for doing a fantastic deed on this surface. She says that it is a tough surface to bat and it was always about hanging in there and building partnerships. She mentions that the youngsters are doing a fantastic job and they have many others who are ready.
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Earlier in the game, it was Alyssa Healy called it correctly and inserted India into bat. Shafali Varma was quick to get off the blocks but failed to kick on. It was the same case with Smriti Mandhana and the early departures of Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur put them in a real spot of bother. Richa Ghosh provided the impetus to the Indian innings and stitched stands first with Deepti Sharma and then with Amanjot Kaur. Her knock of 34 runs from 28 balls breathed life into the Indian innings and gave them something to bowl at. For Australia Women, Georgia Wareham and Annabel Sutherland took 2 wickets each while Megan Schutt and Ashleigh Gardner took a wicket apiece.
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As was the case in the second T20I, India Women failed to put up a daunting total and had to rely on early wickets to stand any chance. Neither Renuka Singh nor Titas Sadhu were able to keep the Aussie openers in check. Even though they managed to get rid of Alyssa Healy near the halfway mark, they failed to put the new batter under pressure. Twin blows from Pooja Vastrakar in the 16th over gave them a glimmer of hope but Phoebe Litchfield took the attack to them and got over her side over the line alongside Beth Mooney.
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In their pursuit of 148, Australia were off to a steady start once again courtesy of their reliable opening pair of Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney. Playing in her 150th T20I game for Australia, Healy took the attack to the opposition while Mooney was happy to knock it around. The Aussie skipper soon brought up her 16th T20I fifty and laid a solid platform for the Australian run chase. After her departure, Tahlia McGrath took the mantle of finding the boundaries and did so with ease during her stay. McGrath perished in doing so and Ellyse Perry fell for a golden duck which gave India a sniff. Coming in at number 5, Phoebe Litchfield continued her rich vein of form and put the pressure back on India through her free-scoring shots. Mooney anchored the chase from the other end throughout the run chase and hit the winning runs which helped her get to her fifty.
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And just like that, another white-ball series win is in the bag for Australia Women! The Aussies have extended their dominance over the Women in Blue and they have shown why they are the world champions! They have proved that the defeat in the first T20I was just an aberration and bounced back in style to win yet another series against India Women. On the flip side, Harmanpreet Kaur and her side were riding high on confidence after their success in the first T20I but Australia Women proved too good for them in the next two T20Is.
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18.44Pooja Vastrakar to Beth Mooney
FOUR! FIFTY UP FOR Beth Mooney AND Australia Women HAVE WON THE T20I SERIES AS WELL! On the good length and outside off from Pooja Vastrakar. Beth Mooney cuts it square and in the gap running away to the fence for four runs off the deep point fence. Australia Women maintain their dominance and India Women have a lot to think about.
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18.34Pooja Vastrakar to Beth Mooney
FOUR! INNOVATIVE! Pooja Vastrakar delivers it full and on middle. Beth Mooney wanted to scoop it but Pooja Vastrakar followed her as she tried to create some room for herself. Mooney was quick to change her posture and change the direction reverse scooping it over short third man. She manages to time the shot well and the ball races away to the deep third fence for four runs bringing them closer to the target.
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18.21Pooja Vastrakar to Phoebe Litchfield
Pooja Vastrakar serves it full and on leg from 'round the wicket. Phoebe Litchfield hacks it to the deep cover region for a single to get to the other end.
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18.10Pooja Vastrakar to Phoebe Litchfield
On length outside off. Phoebe Litchfield comes down the track but misses out on the connection. A good start to the over.
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17.61Titas Sadhu to Phoebe Litchfield
On length and over middle. Phoebe Litchfield misses the scoop shot and Richa Ghosh also fails to collect it cleanly. The batters run a quick bye. 8 runs needed to win off 2 overs.
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17.54Titas Sadhu to Phoebe Litchfield
FOUR! Phoebe Litchfield is taking apart the bowlers here! Titas Sadhu goes full and outside off. Phoebe Litchfield reaches for it and lofts it over covers. The ball is hit in the gap and it crosses the fence for four runs. She is in a hurry to finish off the game.
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17.41Titas Sadhu to Beth Mooney
Again full and on the off pole. Beth Mooney squeezes it to point and takes a single.
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17.31Titas Sadhu to Phoebe Litchfield
A low full toss outside off. Phoebe Litchfield slaps it to the covers region for a single. Titas Sadhu got away with that one.
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17.20Titas Sadhu to Phoebe Litchfield
Very full outside off. Phoebe Litchfield comes down the track and sends it back to the bowler. A good ball by Titas Sadhu.
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17.11Titas Sadhu to Beth Mooney
Full and on the sticks. Beth Mooney gets the inside edge onto her pads. The ball rolls away on the off side and the batters run a single.