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NEW DELHI: A sparkling century stand between Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues guided India to a 17 run victory over Australia in the third and final Women’s T20I on Saturday, sealing their first bilateral T20I series win against the rivals in a decade.

Mandhana hammered 82 off 55 balls with eight fours and three sixes, while Rodrigues struck 59 off 46 as the experienced pair added a commanding 121 runs for the second wicket to lift India to 176 for six after opting to bat.

India’s bowlers then tightened the screws. Young spinner Shreyanka Patil returned figures of 3 for 22 and pace spearhead Renuka Singh claimed 1 for 29 as Australia slumped to 32 for 3 early in the chase.

The early breakthroughs set the platform for a clinical effort as India limited the hosts to 159 for 9 to clinch the series 2 1 and record their first T20I series triumph in Australia since 2016.

Young left arm spinner Shree Charani also impressed with 3 for 32, picking up key wickets to help script a memorable win.

Mandhana Rodrigues set the tone

After choosing to bat, India had a cautious start with Shafali Verma departing for 7.

Mandhana and Rodrigues then took charge. The pair targeted left arm spinner Sophie Molineux in the sixth over, collecting three boundaries in a 14 run burst that shifted the momentum.

India reached 54 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay.

Mandhana looked particularly fluent. She attacked leg spinner Georgia Wareham in her first over, producing a powerful sweep that split deep square leg and deep midwicket perfectly.

India brought up their fifty in just 35 balls.

Mandhana raised her half century in style, reaching the landmark in 38 balls with a six off pacer Darcie Brown in the 12th over. It marked her 33rd international fifty in her 160th appearance.

The 100 run partnership for the second wicket came up in only 66 balls and laid the base for a late flourish. Mandhana fell in the 17th over, caught at deep midwicket off Annabel Sutherland, with Ashleigh Gardner completing a smart running catch to end the 121 run stand.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur promoted Richa Ghosh to No 4 and the move worked as the wicketkeeper batter smashed a quick 18 off just seven balls.

Bowlers strike early to rock Australia

India made early inroads with the ball as openers Georgia Voll and Beth Mooney fell cheaply.

Shreyanka removed Voll in the second over while Renuka dismissed Mooney in the third. Voll miscued a top edge that ballooned in the air and Renuka ran back from short fine leg to take a fine catch. Mooney whipped one towards deep square leg but found Charani perfectly placed.

Australia’s troubles deepened when Ellyse Perry was bowled for 1 by Patil, leaving the hosts 32 for 3 inside four overs.

Gardner fights but India hold nerve

Gardner led a spirited response with 57 off 45 balls and kept Australia in the contest with a composed half century.

However, her resistance ended in the 16th over when Arundhati Reddy struck to swing the match firmly in India’s favour, as the visitors closed out a historic series victory.

(With PTI Inputs)