In the third and final T20I match held in Adelaide, India set a target of 176 runs against Australia, driven by standout performances from Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. The match took place on February 21, 2023, at the Adelaide Oval, where India won the toss and chose to bat first.
Strong Opening Partnership
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma opened the innings for the Indian team. Initially, Australian pacer Darcie Brown struggled to find her rhythm, giving away four wides and conceding a boundary to Mandhana in the opening over. By the end of the second over, India had a solid start, scoring 14 runs without losing a wicket.
The first wicket fell when Shafali was dismissed at a score of 19, leading to Jemimah Rodrigues joining Mandhana at the crease. The duo effectively utilized the powerplay, bringing the score to 54 for one after the first six overs, with Sophie Molineux’s last over conceding 14 runs.
Mandhana Shines
After the initial overs, India maintained a healthy run rate. By the halfway mark, they had reached 86 for one. Mandhana reached her fifty in just 38 balls, hitting a six off Brown in the 12th over. Despite a dropped catch by Phoebe Litchfield in the 15th over, India stood strong at 127 for one by the end of that over. However, Mandhana’s innings concluded in the 16th over after scoring 82 runs off 55 deliveries, including eight fours and three sixes, at a strike rate of 149.09.
Key Contributions from Rodrigues and Ghosh
Following Mandhana’s departure, Richa Ghosh entered the game and continued the aggressive play, scoring 18 runs in just seven balls. Jemimah Rodrigues also reached her half-century, completing it in 41 balls. However, Ghosh was dismissed in the 19th over, bowled by Molineux.
Final Wickets and Total Score
In a dramatic final over, India lost three quick wickets, including Rodrigues, who scored 59 runs, Amanjot Kaur for just 1, and Deepti Sharma for 1. Ultimately, India concluded their innings at 176 for six in 20 overs.
- Match Date: February 21, 2023
- Venue: Adelaide Oval
- Key Players:
- Smriti Mandhana: 82 runs off 55 balls
- Jemimah Rodrigues: 59 runs off 41 balls
- Richa Ghosh: 18 runs off 7 balls
- India’s Score: 176/6
This innings positioned India competitively as they faced Australia in the series finale, showcasing exceptional batting depth and skill.
