Australia Beat India by 11 Runs, Win Women’s Tri-Series Final

Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen was the star of the show for Austraia, returning figures of 5/12 in four overs.

Smriti Mandhana’s 37-ball 66 went in vain as India lost the Tri-Nation Women’s T20 Series final to Australia by 11 runs.

(Photo: Twitter/@ICC)

India opener Smriti Mandhana's 37-ball 66 went in vain as Australia claimed the tri-nation women's T20 series with a gritty 11-run win following a sensational five-wicket haul by spinner Jess Jonassen on Wednesday.

Set a target of 156, India were all out for 144 after being 115/3 in the 15th over.

Seasoned left-arm spinner Jonassen was the star of the show with brilliant figures of 5/12 in four overs, making her only the third Australian bowler to return a five-for in the women’s T20I format.

“It was a really good all-round performance. Getting Mandhana was the game-changer, she was whacking us all over the park.”

Meg Lanning, Australia captain

Opting to bat, Australia managed to post 155/6 in their stipulated 20 overs. Chasing a challenging target, Mandhana was up to the task at hand and smashed 12 boundaries in her knock at the Junction Oval.

The Australian women’s team pose with the trophy.(Photo: Cricket Australia)

However, Mandhana's dismissal in the 15th over, caught brilliantly by Nicola Carey in the deep mid-wicket, turned the match in Australia's favour as they put the brakes on India's scoring while at the same time taking wickets.

It was the departure of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, in the 16th over, which dashed India’s hopes of a victory.

"In the last three overs we couldn't take the pressure and ended up losing wickets," said Harmanpreet, reflecting on the loss.

Earlier in the day, India's Rajeshwari Gayakwad leaked 19 runs in the last over to let Australia off the hook and post a challenging total.

Opener Beth Mooney, who was adjudged player of the series for her 208 runs in the event, top-scored for the hosts with an aggressive 71 off 54 balls.

At the end of the 19th over, Australia were finding it difficult to free their arms at 136/5.

However, Mooney and Rachael Haynes (18 off 7 balls) freed their arms in the last six balls to help Australia put up a challenging total.

Opting to bat, Australia were dealt an early blow when Alyssa Healy (4) was dismissed in the very first over of the summit clash by Deepti Sharma, extending the wicket-keeper’s woeful run with the bat.

Mooney found an ally in Ashleigh Gardner (26) with whom the opener added 52 runs for the second wicket, and then Lanning, who made 26 in a 51-run third-wicket stand.

Deepti, who opened the bowling, finished with impressive figures of 2/30 in her four-over spell, while Gayakwad had 2/32.

India's 16-year-old Richa Ghosh made her debut for India, scoring 17 off 23 balls.

Brief scores: Australia: 155/6 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 71*) beat India 144 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 66; Jess Jonassen 5/12)