Smriti Mandhana's century in vain as India suffer 3-0 series loss to Australia

Smriti Mandhana's return to form could not prevent India from suffering a 3-0 series defeat to Australia. The hosts crushed India by 83 runs in the third ODI at the WACA on Wednesday.

Opener Mandhana, who failed to score in double digits in the first two matches, hit 105 from 109 balls, but India were bowled out for 215 while chasing 299. Ashleigh Gardner, who scored a fifty earlier, bagged a fifer to scuttle the chase.

Annabel Sutherland, whose 110 off 95, had helped the hosts to 298/6, took home the player-of-the-match and the player-of-the-series awards. Sutherland, like Mandhana, had failed to impress in the first two matches, but scored big runs today.

Pacer Arundhati Reddy was brilliant early on, taking four wickets that left the hosts struggling at 78/4 before Sutherland and Gardner steadied the ship.

Brief scores: Australia 298/6 in 50 overs (Annabel Sutherland 110, Tahlia McGrath 56 not out, Ashleigh Gardner 50, Arundhati Reddy 4/26) bt India 215 in 45.1 overs (Smriti Mandhana 105, Harleen Deol 39, Gardner 5/30)