Chasing a huge target of 189 points, the Indian openers again failed to give their team a good start with the two Smriti Mandhana (16) and Shafali Verma (20) falling inside the power play.
But the captain Harmanpreet Kaur used all his experience and kept India in the hunt by adding a 72-run stand with Devika Vaidya for the fourth wicket. The pair took their time and switched gears once they were set, but couldn’t convert their starts into big starts.
Close finish in the fourth #INDvAUS T20I but it was Australia who won the match! #TeamIndia will look to bounce back b… https://t.co/9AzgaxawXr
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Continuing her dream comeback, Perry batted a blistering 72 off 42 deliveries (7×4, 4×6) to propel Australia to 188 for 3 after being asked to bat. Visiting team captain Alyssa Healy retired injured after scoring 30 goals with a calf injury.
India needed 105 balls from 54 when Harmanpreet stepped it up against Megan Schutt.
The Indian skipper then punished Heather Graham, breaking her four limits on five balls in the 13th, which gave 17 points to revive the chase.
But Harmanpreet dropped four points from his half-century as India still needed 68 points from 34 deliveries when Richa took over.
Needing 38 runs over the final two overs, Richa crushed Heather Graham for two successive sixes and followed it up with a limit.
Defending 20 points since the last set, Megan Schutt’s experience came in handy as she played smart to concede just 12 points. Richa managed just two strikes in the final with Schutt playing brilliantly on his home court.
Australia suffered a blow when their skipper Alyssa Healy strained her calf muscle while kicking.
Healy hit 30 from 21 with six fours, but on the second-to-last power play she appeared to have strained her calf muscle trying to shoot. Deepti Sharma. She limped off the field after the power play and did not return to bat.
In Healy’s absence, McGrath led the team, while Beth Mooney donned the wicketkeeper gloves.
Australia nearly lost three wickets for 46 after Tahlia McGrath was cleared by Radha Yadav in the seventh.
But Healy’s absence was barely felt as the versatile veteran Perry continued her dream run with a second straight half-century.
The 32-year-old, who hit a 75 in Australia’s 21-point win in the third T20I, with Ashleigh Gardner taking charge of the proceedings.
The duo put 94 runs on just 59 balls to seize the momentum from the 12 after being asked to strike.
Gardner smoked three sixes and as many limits to give Perry perfect support.
After Gardner left in the 17th, it was Grace Harris who stormed in as she fired a quick 27-step 12-delivery (1×6, 1×4) shot to continue to pile the misery on the Indians.
Perry, who had previously been kicked out of the Australian side of the T20, reportedly for a slow beat, used her feet well against the Indian spinners and drove powerfully.
With Perry and Gardner fully charged, Australia scored 115 runs in the final nine overs to back up their tally. India’s botched commissioning also continued to let them down. The home side had a chance to wear down Perry on the 12th when they struggled to finish a run.
It was a fine throw from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur from extra coverage, but Radha Yadav fumbled at the non-attacking end.
(With PTI inputs)
