Adelaide, February 21 – Smriti Mandhana expressed her delight after India’s 17-run victory over Australia in the series decider on Saturday, stating that defeating the Aussies in Australia is “truly special.” However, she also noted that the team will “not celebrate too much” and will instead focus on the upcoming ODI leg of the tour, which begins on Tuesday.
India secured a convincing 17-run victory in the third and final T20I on Saturday at the Adelaide Oval, further solidifying their 4-2 lead in the multi-format series. A stunning 121-run partnership between Smriti Mandhana (82) and Jemimah Rodrigues (59) propelled India to a formidable 176/6, with Mandhana’s explosive innings earning her the Player of the Match award.
Reflecting on her personal performance and the team’s overall success, Mandhana expressed her happiness during the post-match presentation, saying, “It was great to contribute to the series win. I think beating Australia in Australia is something truly special. I’m really happy for the team and glad that I could contribute.”
Mandhana, who has been in superb form throughout the series, played a crucial role in setting the stage for India’s total. Her 82 runs came off 55 balls and featured some beautiful stroke-play. However, it was the partnership with Rodrigues that truly turned the tide in India’s favour.
Mandhana praised Jemimah Rodrigues' role in their partnership. “When she came in, I was on 15 off 16 balls and still trying to find my rhythm, and she came in, hit three or four boundaries, and created momentum, which allowed me to settle in. Those small things don’t always get noticed, but I feel that when she came in and hit those quick 2-3 boundaries, it helped me calm down. So, credit to her for playing that kind of innings,” she said.
The dynamic partnership saw India accelerate in the middle overs, with Mandhana reaching her fifty with a six in the 12th over. Although she was dismissed in the 17th over, the foundation was firmly set for India to finish strong, aided by Richa Ghosh’s quick-fire cameo.
Defending a competitive target, India struck early with the ball, taking key Australian wickets in quick succession. Despite a fighting 57 from Ashleigh Gardner, Australia could never recover from the early damage.
Mandhana also highlighted the significance of India’s early breakthroughs in setting the tone for the game, stating, “I think we beat them in 2016 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.”
In the final stages, India’s bowlers maintained the pressure, and a brilliant diving catch from Rodrigues sent Gardner back to the dugout. The visitors eventually restricted the hosts to 159/9, completing a well-deserved victory.
Mandhana, however, remained focused on the next challenge. “We will move on to the ODI series and not celebrate too much,” she concluded.
With a balanced team effort, the Women in Blue are now preparing for the upcoming ODI series, which begins at The Gabba on February 24. This will be their first 50-over format series since winning their first-ever Women’s World Cup trophy in November last year.
