AUSW vs INDW: Smriti Mandhana breaks 6-year-old record as India post 176 in 3rd T20I

Smriti Mandhana smashed a record-breaking 82 to help India post 176/6 in the third T20I against Australia. She got involved in a century stand for the second wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues to bring India in the driver's seat.

Star India batter Smriti Mandhana broke her six-year-old record to guide India to a historic series win over Australia on Saturday, 21 February, at Adelaide Oval. Mandhana guided India to a competitive total of 176/6 in the series-deciding third T20I, playing a magnificent innings of 82 off 55 balls, striking eight fours and three sixes. She stitched together a crucial partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues for the second wicket.

Mandhana brought up her 33rd T20I half-century and added 121 runs for the second wicket off 82 balls alongside Rodrigues, who scored 59 off 46 deliveries. During her innings, the India opener also broke her own six-year-old record to register the highest individual score by an Indian batter in Australia.

AUSW vs INDW 3rd T20I Updates

Sound up for this sweetly-struck six from Smriti Mandhana! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/uUWIAi4aLw

The left-hander had previously scored 66 off 37 balls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2020 and surpassed that effort in the third T20I against Australia. Meanwhile, Mandhana also registered her eighth fifty-plus score against Australia, extending her record for the most such scores by an Indian batter against the Aussies.

The India opener got off the mark on the fourth delivery of her innings with a boundary but lost her partner Shafali Verma, who managed 7 off 6 balls, in the third over. She then took on Sophie Molineux in the final over of the powerplay, striking her for three boundaries to move into the twenties. Mandhana brought up her half-century in 38 balls with a maximum off Darcie Brown.