23-FEB-2026, 12: 08 PM, India’s women’s cricket team secured a 2-1 T20I series victory over Australia after defeating the hosts by 17 runs in the third and final T20I at Adelaide Oval on February 21, 2026.
India posted 176/6 in 20 overs, with Smriti Mandhana leading the innings with a brilliant 82 from 55 balls. Australia could manage 159/9 in reply, giving India a 17-run victory and the series.
The result gave India an important series win during their multi-format tour of Australia.
Smriti Mandhana Leads India’s Batting
India’s total was built around an excellent innings from Smriti Mandhana.
The left-handed opener scored 82 runs from 55 deliveries, providing the foundation for India’s total.
Mandhana’s innings helped India recover from periods when Australia attempted to restrict the scoring rate. Her ability to find boundaries while maintaining a strong strike rate allowed India to finish with a competitive total.
India eventually reached 176/6 from their 20 overs.
The score was also the highest women’s T20 international total recorded at Adelaide Oval, adding further significance to India’s performance.
India Defend 176 Successfully
Australia began the chase with the intention of maintaining pressure on India’s bowlers.
However, India’s attack continued to pick up important wickets throughout the innings.
Australia ended its innings at 159/9, finishing 17 runs behind India’s total.
The Indian bowlers were able to control the scoring during the middle and final stages of the innings, preventing Australia from building the partnerships required to complete the chase.
The result gave India a convincing victory in the deciding match.
A Special Night for Ellyse Perry
The match was also significant for Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who was playing her 350th international match.
Perry’s milestone was overshadowed by India’s victory after she was dismissed for just one run.
Her 350th international appearance was nevertheless an important moment in her long international career.
The Australian side acknowledged the significance of the occasion even though the team could not finish the match with a win.
India Take the T20I Series 2-1
The victory meant India finished the three-match T20I series with a 2-1 advantage.
India had already won the opening T20I in Sydney, while Australia levelled the series in the second match before India’s decisive victory in Adelaide.
The three-match schedule was part of India’s wider multi-format tour of Australia, which also included three ODIs and a one-off Test.
India’s T20I success therefore gave the team momentum heading into the next stage of the tour.
ODI Series Was Still to Come
Importantly, India’s T20I series victory did not mean that India had won an ODI series in Australia.
The first ODI was scheduled for February 24 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, followed by matches in Hobart on February 27 and March 1.
This distinction is important because the original NewShots headline incorrectly described the February 23 story as an ODI series victory.
For an accurate news article, the story should clearly refer to India’s T20I series win.
What the Result Means for India
Winning a T20I series in Australia provided India with confidence ahead of the ODI matches.
The result also demonstrated India’s ability to perform under pressure in a deciding match against one of the strongest women’s cricket teams in the world.
Mandhana’s contribution with the bat was particularly important, while the bowling unit successfully defended a total of 176.
However, the ODI format presented a different challenge.
The longer format requires teams to manage 50 overs, build larger partnerships and maintain consistency over a much longer period.
India would therefore need to start the ODI series afresh rather than relying solely on the T20I result.
Australia’s Response
Australia entered the final T20I hoping to win the series after levelling the contest in the second match.
The hosts were unable to chase down India’s total, however, despite making a competitive start.
Losing wickets at important stages prevented Australia from maintaining the required scoring rate.
The defeat meant Australia finished the T20I series with a 1-2 result.
The team would then turn its attention to the ODI series, where it had another opportunity to respond.
India’s Tour of Australia
The T20I series was only one part of India’s 2026 tour of Australia.
According to the BCCI schedule, the tour consisted of:
- Three T20Is
- Three ODIs
- One Test match
The T20Is were played in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide.
The ODI series was scheduled to begin in Brisbane on February 24 before moving to Hobart for the final two matches. A one-off Test was scheduled to follow the white-ball matches in Perth.
The multi-format structure made the tour particularly important for both teams.
Mandhana’s Knock Sets the Tone
Smriti Mandhana’s innings was one of the biggest highlights of India’s performance in Adelaide. Coming into the deciding match with the series level, India needed a strong start with the bat, and the opener provided exactly that.
Mandhana combined controlled stroke play with aggressive hitting as the innings progressed. Her 82-run knock gave India the platform to post a competitive total and put pressure on Australia’s batting lineup.
The innings was particularly important because Australia had managed to challenge India during the earlier matches of the series. By producing a strong score in the deciding game, India ensured that the Australian team would need to maintain a high scoring rate throughout the chase.
India’s bowlers then supported the batting effort by taking wickets at important stages. Although Australia remained within reach for parts of the chase, India continued to create pressure and eventually restricted the hosts to 159/9.
The victory showed India’s ability to perform under pressure in a series-deciding match. It also provided confidence to the team ahead of the ODI leg of the tour.
However, the formats required different approaches. India’s T20I success could provide momentum, but the upcoming 50-over matches would demand patience, longer partnerships and consistent bowling across a much larger number of overs.
Conclusion
India’s women’s cricket team defeated Australia by 17 runs in the third T20I at Adelaide Oval, securing a 2-1 series victory.
Smriti Mandhana’s 82 from 55 balls helped India post 176/6, while Australia’s chase ended at 159/9.
The result gave India a strong start to the wider multi-format tour.
However, the victory was in the T20I series, not the ODI series. The first ODI was scheduled for February 24, meaning the ODI contest was still ahead when this February 23 article was published.
India would therefore enter the ODI series with confidence from their T20I success, while Australia would look to respond in the 50-over format.
Source: BCCI, ICC and match reporting.
