India Women sealed a big overseas series win and defeated Australia Women 2-1 in the three-match T20I series. The decider at Adelaide Oval ended with India winning by 17 runs, completing a strong all-round performance in pressure conditions.
On Saturday, February 21, 2026, India won the 3rd T20I in Adelaide after posting 176/6 and restricting Australia to 159/9 in 20 overs. The result gave India the series 2-1 after Australia had levelled it in the second match.
India tour of Australia Series Result: India Win 2-1
India started the series with a DLS win in Sydney, lost the second game in Canberra, and then bounced back in Adelaide to take the series.
| Match | Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Feb 15, 2026 | Sydney (SCG) | India won by 21 runs (DLS) |
| 2nd T20I | Feb 19, 2026 | Canberra (Manuka Oval) | Australia won by 19 runs |
| 3rd T20I | Feb 21, 2026 | Adelaide Oval | India won by 17 runs |
Adelaide Decider: Mandhana-Rodrigues Set It Up, Bowlers Finish It
India’s innings was built around a match-winning partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues.
- India Women: 176/6 (20 overs)
- Australia Women: 159/9 (20 overs)
- Result: India won by 17 runs
Top Batting Highlights (India)
- Smriti Mandhana: 82 (55 balls), 8 fours, 3 sixes
- Jemimah Rodrigues: 59 (46 balls), 4 fours
- Partnership (2nd wicket): 121 runs — the backbone of India’s total
- Richa Ghosh: 18 (7 balls) with a late burst (SR 257.14)
Australia’s Chase: Gardner Fought, India’s Wickets Kept Falling
Australia lost early wickets and never fully settled, even though Ashleigh Gardner kept them in the chase.
- Ashleigh Gardner: 57 (45 balls), 5 fours, 1 six
- Phoebe Litchfield: 26 (17 balls) gave early momentum
- But India struck regularly through the middle and at the death.
Match-Winning Bowlers and Turning Points
India’s bowlers delivered wickets at key moments, and the fielding effort included a major highlight catch.
Best Bowling Figures (India)
- Shreyanka Patil: 3/22 (4 overs)
- Shree Charani: 3/32 (4 overs)
- Arundhati Reddy: 2/35 (4 overs)
- Deepti Sharma: 0/27 (4 overs) (closed the match)
Big Turning Points
- India removed Australia’s top order early: Mooney (6) and Perry (1) were out inside the powerplay phase.
- Jemimah Rodrigues’ diving catch to dismiss Gardner (57) was a match-changing moment, stopping the chase just when Australia were looking dangerous.
- Australia’s innings also saw a rare moment under pressure: Grace Harris was out hit-wicket, a reminder of how tight India’s bowling and match situation had become.
Records and Numbers From the Decider
This match had several standout numbers that made it a memorable series finale:
- India’s 176/6 became one of their highest T20I totals vs Australia, and it included a landmark innings from Mandhana.
- Smriti Mandhana’s 82 was recorded as her highest T20I score vs Australia in this match.
- The 121-run stand between Mandhana and Rodrigues was highlighted as a top second-wicket partnership for India vs Australia in WT20Is.
Winning a T20I series in Australia is never easy, and India did it by staying calm after the second-match setback and delivering their best cricket in the decider. With Mandhana’s class at the top, Rodrigues’ stability, and a disciplined bowling effort led by Shreyanka Patil and Charani, India earned a well-deserved 2-1 series win.
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