India women v Australia women: 4th T20I: India lose by 7 runs, Australia take unassailable 3-1 lead

Australian bowlers held their nerves to deny India a series-equalling win in the fourth T20I at Mumbai on Saturday, as 'women-in-blue' lost the match by a painful margin of seven runs despite a quality knock from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and late flourish from Richa Ghosh.

Chasing 189, India lost openers Smriti Mandhana (16) and Shafali Verma (20) in the powerplay itself, reducing India to 43/2. At the end of powerplay, India were 44/2, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease.

Alana King joined the party for Australia, dismissing key batter Jemimah for just eight runs, reducing India to 49/3. Following that, Harmanpreet joined forces with Devika Vaidya to rebuild the innings.

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At the end of 10 overs, India were 77/3, with Harmanpreet (20) and Devika (7) unbeaten. The 72-run stand between the duo ended after King dismissed skipper Harmanpreet for 46 off 30 balls.

At the end of 15 overs, India were tottering at 130/4, with Devika joined by Richa Ghoshat the crease. In the 18th over of the match, Ashleigh Gardner landed another timely blow on India as she dismissed Devika for 32 off 26 balls. Half of the Indian team was back in the hut for 149 runs.

India could not successfully pull off the chase, finishing the innings at 181/5, losing the game by seven runs.Richa was unbeaten at 40 off 19 balls, while Deepti was unbeaten at 12.

King and Gardner took two wickets each. Darcie Brown took a wicket. Richa however continued her onslaught, smashing fours and sixes to bring India back into contention. India were left to score 20 runs in the final over.

Read more:India women vs Australia women: 3rd T20I: India lose by 21 runs as Australia lead series 2-1

Earlier, it was Ellyse Perry's blistering knock of 72 of 42 balls that helped the Australia women's team set a massive target of 189 in 20 overs in the fourth T20I match against India at Brabourne Stadium here.

Put into bat, the Australian side got off to a brisk start but Deepti Sharma gave India the first breakthrough dismissing Beth Mooney for two as the visitors lost their first wicket for 24.

Captain Alyssa Healy was batting strongly at 30, which came off 21 balls but had to leave the field after getting retired hurt. Radha Yadav struck and gave India a second breakthrough dismissing Tahlia McGrath for nine as Australia lost the second wicket for 46.

Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry struck a partnership to take Australia`s total beyond the 50-run mark in seven overs. The Gardner-Perry duo notched up a 50-run partnership in just 34 balls and also took the team's total beyond the triple-figure mark in the 13th over. Ellyse Perry went on to score her half-century off 32 balls.

India desperately needed a wicket and Deepti Sharma struck for the second time getting the prized scalp of Ashleigh Gardner who had made 42 of 27 balls. Australia lost their third wicket at 140.

The World Champions went past the 150-run mark in 17.2 overs with Perry and Grace Harris batting impressively. Perry remained unbeaten on 72 of 42 balls while Harris remained not out on 27 of 12 balls to guide the team to a massive 188/3 in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Australia Women: 188/3 in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 72*, Ashleigh Gardner 42; Deepti Sharma 2/35) beat India Women: 181/5 (Harmanpreet Kaur 46, Richa Ghosh 40, Ashleigh Gardner 2/20).

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