Ellyse Perry’s 75 off 47 shots gave Australia a 21-point victory in the third Twenty20 against India at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Batting first, Perry and Grace Harris, who hit 41 of 18, helped Australia score 172-8.
In response, Shafali Verma hit 52 of 41 balls in a 73 partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
But Verma’s dismissal sparked a 106-2 126-6 collapse as Australia’s bowlers fought back.
Darcie Brown and Ash Gardner finished with two wickets each as India finished 151-7.
Victory gives Australia a 2-1 series lead after five games India equalized with a super-over victory in the second T20 – the first defeat of the world champions of 2022.
After losing the coin toss and being batted, the Indian bowlers started positively with captain Alyssa Healy for a point in the first round, before the all-rounder Tahlia McGrath fell for the same scoreline in the second.
It’s the first time Australia’s middle order has been tested in the series so far, after McGrath and Beth Mooney added stands over 100 for the second wicket in the first two games.
But versatile star Perry, who recently hasn’t always been a regular in Australia’s T20 XI, led the counterattack with nine fours and three sixes in his stroke.
The sets were in the balance at 144-6 when Perry started in the 17th, but Harris’ onslaught changed the momentum firmly in Australia’s favour.
The loss of opening partner Mandhana did not deter Verma, who broke three sixes in his half-century as India got off to a good start in their pursuit.
But Australian bowlers applied pressure after Verma was fired as Gardner took two wickets in the 15th to leave India 113-5 with 60 runs still needed.
Deepti Sharma finished undefeated on 25 of 17 balls but the lower order struggled to keep pace.
The series continues Saturday at 1:30 p.m. GMT at the same location.
