The visiting Australian side took a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series against India Women as they won the third T20I by 21 runs, riding on a superb 47-ball knock of 75 from experienced all-rounder Ellyse Perry.

Australia batted first in the match and put on a massive total of 172/8 on the board. They didn’t get off to a good start, though, as they lost the wickets of Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrath inside the first couple of overs, with just five runs on the board.

But there was no respite for the Indian bowlers once Perry walked in to bat. She built partnerships of 64 with Beth Mooney, 20 with Ashleigh Gardner and 55 with Grace Harris to put Australia in a commanding position. Harris also played an excellent 18-ball cameo of 41 to increase the miseries of the Indian bowlers.

India tried their best to chase down the target of 173 but they never quite matched the required run-rate at any stage of their innings. Shafali Verma scored a fifty but she consumed 41 balls to do so. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur tried her best with a 27-ball knock of 37 but even that wasn’t enough as India reached 151/7 in their full quota of 20 overs.

As far as the Australian bowling goes, Darcie Brown was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/19 to her name in four overs. Part-time spinner Ashleigh Gardner also delivered a superb bowling performance as she claimed figures of 2/21 in three overs.

India will now take on Australia in the fourth T20I at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, December 17.

Brief Scores

 Australia Women 172/8 in 20 overs (Perry 75, Harris 41; Vaidya 2/22)

 India Women 151/7 in 20 overs (Verma 52, Kaur 37; Brown 2/19)

 Australia Women won by 21 runs.

 Player of the Match: Ellyse Perry