India Clinches T20 Series Against Australia in Ellyse Perry’s Milestone Match
Australia faced a disappointing defeat in the T20 leg of their multi-format series against India, succumbing to a 17-run loss on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval. The setback came during a significant occasion for Australian cricket, marking Ellyse Perry’s 350th appearance for her country. India’s dominant batting performance laid the foundation for their victory, ultimately proving too much for the home side to overcome.
India’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, were instrumental in setting a formidable target. Electing to bat first, the touring side amassed a record-breaking total of 6-176, a score that put immediate pressure on the Australian run chase.
A Glimmer of Hope Dashed
The Australian pursuit of the target began shakily. The team lost three crucial wickets for just 32 runs, including the significant scalp of Ellyse Perry in her landmark match. Perry was dismissed early in the fourth over, falling victim to a turning delivery from Indian off-spinner Shreyanka Patil.
Despite the early blows, Ash Gardner provided a much-needed spark for Australia, smashing a rapid 57 off 45 deliveries. Her aggressive innings offered a glimmer of hope for a successful chase. However, this resurgence was not enough to close the gap. Australia was ultimately restricted to 9-159 from their allotted 20 overs, confirming India’s victory and putting them 2-1 up in the series (4-2 points).
Late contributions from Georgia Wareham (12) and Annabel Sutherland (14) attempted to steer the team towards an unlikely win, but the required run rate proved too steep.
Individual Brilliance and Key Performances
Smriti Mandhana was the standout performer with the bat for India, registering her new highest score in T20 internationals in Australia. Her blistering knock of 82 off 55 balls surpassed her previous best of 66. The 29-year-old’s innings was a masterclass, featuring 11 boundaries, including three sixes, and marked her 33rd international fifty in the format.
Complementing Mandhana’s brilliance was Jemimah Rodrigues, who contributed a valuable 59 off 46 balls. This was Rodrigues’ first T20 international fifty on Australian soil and the 15th of her burgeoning short-form career.
On the bowling front for India, Shreyanka Patil proved to be a game-changer. Making her return to the side, she claimed the crucial wicket of Ellyse Perry and finished with figures of 3-22. Shree Charani (3-32) and Arundhati Reddy (2-35) also played vital roles in restricting Australia’s scoring and securing the win.
For Australia, Annabel Sutherland led the bowling attack with 2-34, despite a generally expensive outing from the wider bowling unit under the guidance of coach Shelley Nitschke. Quick bowler Kim Garth was the most economical for Australia, conceding 25 runs from her three overs at an economy rate of 8.3.
Perry’s Milestone Moment
Ellyse Perry’s 350th game was a momentous occasion, and she showcased her class both with the bat and in the field. A significant moment came in the ninth over of India’s innings when Perry produced a stunning one-handed stop at long-on, preventing a boundary and saving two crucial runs. This athletic feat demonstrated her enduring impact on the game. She capped off her fielding efforts with a run-out on the final delivery of the innings, preventing India from adding a second run.
Notable Dismissals
- Phoebe Litchfield’s aggressive approach at number three for Australia was a mixed bag. She struck a boundary with a switch-hit in the ninth over, but the same risky shot on the very next ball led to her dismissal. Litchfield had looked promising, scoring 26 off 17 balls before departing.
- Shreyanka Patil’s inclusion in the Indian side paid immediate dividends. After an expensive opening over for India, Patil was brought in to bowl the second over and struck gold by dismissing the in-form Georgia Voll for 10 off five balls. Voll, who had scored a career-high 88 in the previous match, top-edged an attempted sweep shot.
Upcoming Fixtures
The focus now shifts to the One Day International (ODI) and Test formats as the series continues.
One Day Internationals:
- February 24: First ODI, Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 2:50pm AEDT
- February 27: Second ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
- March 1: Third ODI, Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2:50pm AEDT
Test Match:
- March 6-9: Test match, WACA Ground, 4:20pm AEDT (D/N)
Squads for the Remainder of the Series
Australia T20I Squad:
Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India T20I Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Arundhati Reddy, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil
Australia ODI Squad:
Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India ODI Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Kashvee Gautam, Amanjot Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Uma Chetry, Harleen Deol
Australia Test Squad:
Alyssa Healy (c), Sophie Molineux (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India Test Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare
