Adelaide Oval witnessed a milestone moment as Jemimah Rodrigues became the fourth Indian woman to amass 2,500 T20I runs, highlighted by her gritty 59-run knock in the decisive third T20 against Australia.
Playing her 118th T20I, Rodrigues faced 46 deliveries, striking four fours to notch her half-century. The landmark boundary came off Kim Garth’s bowling in the fifth over, capping a resilient performance amid a competitive chase.
India, batting first after a toss win, reached 176/6. Early trouble struck with Shefali Verma’s 7-run dismissal at 19/1. Enter Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana, who forged an 121-run alliance over 82 balls, rescuing the innings masterfully.
Mandhana’s explosive 82 off 55 (8×4, 3×6) set the tone before she departed. Richa Ghosh then accelerated with 18 off 7 (2×4, 1×6), partnering Rodrigues for 28 runs in 14 balls to near 170.
Australia’s Annabel Sutherland snared two wickets, with Garth and Molineux claiming one apiece. Rodrigues joins elite company with Kaur, Mandhana, and Verma in Indian women’s T20I history.
Series context adds drama: India’s DLS-aided 21-run win in game one, Australia’s 19-run triumph in game two. The finale could swing either way, with Rodrigues’ form a key factor for India.