Pivotal performances with both bat and ball from Muruwari champion Ash Gardner have lead Australia to an unassailable 3-1 series lead in their five-match T20 series against India.
The all-rounder blasted 42 from just 27 deliveries before taking 2-20 with the ball from her four overs to guide Australia to victory in match four of the series, winners by seven runs.
After India won the toss and sent the visiting Australians in to bat, Gardner came to the crease at 2-46 in the seventh over following the loss of Berth Mooney (2), Tahlia McGrath (9), and the retirement of Alyssa Healy (30) after the opening batter sustained a suspected right calf injury.
Partnering with Ellyse Perry (72* from 42), the pair wrestled momentum back the Australians way, putting on 96 for the third wicket in a partnership that saw the all-rounder duo dispatch the Indian attack for a combined 17 boundaries to all areas of Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.
Their partnership ended halfway through the 17th over after Gardner hauled out to Harleen Deol, caught on the long on fence after advancing to a wide delivery from Indian off-spinner Deepti Sharma.
With the scoreboard reading 3-140 Gardner's wicket was the last of the Australian's to fall, with Grace Harris (27* from 12) partnering with the in-form Perry to add 48 runs from the final 20 balls of the innings.
In reply India got off to a flying start thanks to four boundaries in the opening overs of the chase delivered by fast bowlers Darcie Brown (1-33) and Megan Schutt (4-44).
The third over saw Gardner's introduction into the attack pay immediate dividends for the Australians, with dangerous opening batter Smriti Mandhana (16 from 10), edging a rearing Gardner off-break through to stand-in wicketkeeper Beth Mooney.
The wicket of Shafali Verma (20) and Jemima Rodrigues (8) soon followed, leaving the Indians in a similar position to Australia, sitting at 3-49 after seven overs.
India then recovered to position themselves well in the chase with the ever-reliable Harmanpreet Kaur (46 from 30) partnering with Devica Vaidya (32 form 26) in a 62-run third wicket stand.
However, it was the re-introduction of spin that turned the match back in favour of the Australians.
Western Australian leg-spinner Alana King (2-23) dismissing Kaur in the 15th over, which was followed by an economical six-run over from Gardner.
Two overs later Gardner's last went for just three runs and included the wicket of Devika Vaidya, stumped after advancing the second ball of Gardner's over.
Some lusty late-innings hitting from Indian wicketkeeper Ricah Ghosh which included four boundaries and two sixes gave India a sniff of victory, however her 19 ball 40* was in vein as Australia held on for a seven run tournament-clinching victory.
Gardner's performance with both bat and ball in hand was her best tournament performance to date.
The final match in the series will be played Wednesday morning Australian eastern standard time at Brabourne Stadium.
