In a nail-biting finish, Australia A sealed a thrilling four-run victory over India A to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 series at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. The hero of the match? Sianna Ginger, the 20-year-old all-rounder who delivered a match-winning performance with both bat and ball. Her spell of 4-16 turned the game in Australia’s favor, ensuring they walked away with an unbeaten series record.
India A, fresh off a heavy defeat in the second T20, showed significant improvement with the ball. Prema Rawat and Radha Yadav were instrumental, picking up three wickets each to restrict Australia A to 144/8. The visitors had a solid chance to chase down the target, especially after opener Shafali Verma’s explosive 41 off just 25 balls. Her innings, packed with six fours and a six, set the tone for the chase.
But Sianna Ginger had other plans. She broke the partnership by dismissing Shafali in the eighth over, shifting the momentum back to Australia. The young Queenslander struck again in the 15th over, stumping Raghvi Bist, and then delivered a killer blow in the penultimate over. With just three runs conceded, she removed Radha Yadav and Sajana Sajeevan, leaving India A scrambling in the final overs. Tess Flintoff held her nerve in the last over, defending 15 runs to secure the win.
Earlier in the match, Australia A’s batting saw contributions from several players. Alyssa Healy, fresh off a blistering 70 in the previous game, chipped in with a quickfire 27, while Madeline Penna top-scored with a measured 39. Sianna Ginger added a crucial unbeaten 17 off just seven balls to push the total to a competitive 144.
For India A, Minnu Mani’s 30 offered some resistance, but the lack of partnerships in the middle overs proved costly. The visitors fell just short, finishing at 140/8. The loss marked another disappointing outing, but the improved bowling performance was a silver lining.
Both teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming one-day series, with the first match scheduled in Brisbane on Wednesday. Australia A will look to carry their winning momentum forward, while India A will aim to bounce back strongly. Sianna Ginger’s all-round brilliance was the highlight of the match, and her performance will be one to watch as the series progresses.