Melbourne: India opener Smriti Mandhanau2019s 37- ball 66 went in vain as Australia claimed the tri- nation womenu2019s T20 series with a gritty 11- run win following a sensational five- wicket haul by spinner Jess Jonassen here on Wednesday. Set a target of 156, India were all out for 144 after being 115 for three in the 15th over. Seasoned left- arm spinner Jonassen was the star of the show with brilliant figures of five for 12 in four overs, making her only the third Australian bowler to return a five- for in the womenu2019s T20 format. u201c It was a really good allround performance. Getting Mandhana was the game- changer, she was whacking us all over the park,u201d said Australian captain Meg Lanning. Opting to bat, Australia managed to post 155 for six 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. However, Mandhanau2019s dismissal in the 15th over, caught brilliantly by Nicola Carey in the deep mid- wicket, turned the match in Australiau2019s favour as they put the brakes on Indiau2019s scoring while at the same time taking wickets. It was the departure of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, in the 16th over, which dashed Indiau2019s hopes of a victory. u201c In the last three overs we couldnu2019t take the pressure and ended up losing wickets,u201d said Harmanpreet, reflecting on the loss. Earlier in the day, Indiau2019s 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, hitting nine boundaries at the Junction Oval. At the end of the 19th over, Australia were finding it difficult to free their arms at 136 for five. However, Mooney and Rachael Haynes ( 18 off 7 balls) hit out in the last six balls to prop up Australia, ruining left- arm spinner Gayakwadu2019s day. 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 wicketkeeperu2019s 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 also made 26 during 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. Richa Ghosh, 16, made her first appearance for India, scoring 17 off 23 balls. PTI Brief scores Australia 155- 6 in 20 overs ( Beth Mooney 71*, M Lanning 26; D Sharma 2- 30, R Gayakwad 2- 32) beat India 144 in 20 overs ( S Mandhana 66; J Jonassen 5- 12) by 11 runs Spinner Jonassenu2019s 5- 12 wreaks havoc as Indian eves stumble in chase despite blazing fifty from Mandhana; Australia win T20 tri- series final by 11 runs India Jess fall short Australiau2019s Jess Jonassen bowls against India in the tri- series final yesterday A dejected Indian womenu2019s team after narrowly losing to Australia in the tri- series final at Melbourne yesterday. pics/ Getty Imag es

India Jess fall short

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Mumbai / Mumbai News / Article / India Jess fall short

India Jess fall short

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast