An unbeaten 62 by vice-captain Mithali Raj and a responsible 47 by Jaya Sharma fashioned India's six wickets win over world champions Australia in the third one-day international women's cricket match at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana in Mumbai on Thursday.
Put in to bat, Australia were bowled out for 147 in 47.1 overs on a track that helped the bowlers and India reached the target in 44 overs losing four wickets for their first win in the seven-match series.
The visitors got off to a flying start with their skipper Belinda Clark (32, 4x4) and her deputy Karen Rolton (40, 3x4) putting on 63 runs off 20.2 overs.
The Australians had another fruitful partnership between Jisa Keightley (56, 5x4) and Rolton which realised 57 run for the second wicket off 15.3 overs before Keightley was run out going for a risky single.
The visitors, who were sitting pretty at 120 for two off 36.3 overs at one stage, then slumped to 147 allout off 47.1 overs with India's left arm spinner Neetu David (3/27) and pacer Jhulan Goswami (2/22) doing the maximum damage.
Set to get less than three runs per over, the Indians lost two wickets for 45 runs but a 60-run third wicket partnership between women-of-the-match Mithali, who hit 11 fours and a six in her unbeaten knock, and left hander Jaya Sharma off 14 overs sealed the Aussie's fate.
The fourth ODI will be played at Vapi (Gujarat) on December 19.
Brief scores: Australia 147 allout off 47.1 overs (B Clark 32, K Rolton 40, L Keightley 56, N David three for 27, J Goswami two for 22) lost to India 151 for four off 44 overs (M Raj 62 not out, J Sharma 47).
