Left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana’s anchoring century went in vain as India succumbed to an 83-run defeat in the final ODI of the three-match series against Australia here at the Western Australia Cricket Association Ground on Wednesday.
Chasing a dauting 299-run target, the touring side could amass 215 before getting bundled out in the 46th over.
India had a shaky start to the pursuit as opening batter Richa Ghosh (two) fell victim to Megan Schutt on the first delivery of the fifth over with just 16 runs on the board.
Following the early hiccup, Mandhana was joined Harleen Deol and the duo batted cautiously to push their side’s total past the 100-run mark.
Mandhana and Deol put together 118-run partnership for the second wicket until Alana King provided a much-needed breakthrough to the home side by getting rid of the latter.
Deol remained a significant run-scorer for India with a cautious 39 off 64 deliveries, laced with four boundaries.
Meanwhile, Mandhana was then involved in two brief partnerships with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues before eventually perishing in the 36th over.
She remained the top-scorer for India with 105 off 109 deliveries, studded with 14 fours and a six.
Her dismissal opened the floodgates as the touring side lost their remaining five wickets for just 26 runs and thus succumbed to a crushing defeat, which led Australia to a clean sweep 3-0 series victory.
Ashleigh Gardner was the standout bowler for Australia, picking up five wickets, while Schutt and King bagged two wickets each.
Put into bat first, Australia registered a commendable total of 298/6, courtesy of Annabel Sutherland’s brisk century.
The right-handed batter recovered Australia from 78/4 by knitting two massive partnerships with Gardner and skipper Tahlia McGrath, who made notable contributions with a half-century apiece.
Sutherland top-scored for the home side with a 95-ball 110, laced with nine fours and four sixes.
For her brilliant all-round performance, Sutherland was adjudged the player of the match and series.
For India, Arundhati Reddy took four wickets, while Deepti Sharma made one scalp.
