India v Australia: Ellyse Perry leads tourists to 21-point win in third T20

Australia 172-8 (20 overs ): Perry 75 (47), Harris 41 (18); Vaidya 2-22 India 151-7 (20 overs): Verma 52 (41); Brown 2-19Australia won by 21 pointsScorecard< p class="" data-reactid=".27xsrf9ifr4.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-3.0">First, Perry and Grace Harris, who broke 41 of 18 balls, helped Australia go 172-8.

In response, Shafali Verma hit 52 out of 41 in a 73 partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

But Verma's dismissal sparked a 106-2 to 126-6 collapse as Australian bowlers retaliated.

Darcie Brown and Ash Gardner finished with two wickets apiece as India finished 151-7 .

Victory gives Australia a 2-1 lead in the five-match series after India equalized with a super-over win in the second T20 - the world champions' first loss of 2022.

After losing the coin toss and being batted, India's bowlers started positively with captain Alyssa Healy for a run in the first inning, before the all-rounder Tahlia McGrath fell for the same score in the second.

This is the first time that the intermediate order of Australia is tested in the series so far, after McGrath and Beth Mooney add st ands over 100 for the second wicket in the first two games.

But stars all rounder Perry, who hasn't always been a regular in Australia's T20 XI recently, 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 17th, but the onslaught of Harris turned the tide firmly in favor of Australia.

The loss of opening partner Mandhana didn't deter Verma, who broke three sixes in his half c.. .