New Delhi, Sept. 20 -- Smriti Mandhana's record-breaking effort went in vain as India slipped to a 43-run defeat in the 3rd ODI and the three-match series fell out of the hosts' hands and ended with a 2-1 loss against Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.

In pursuit of an impregnable 413-run target, Mandhana, who cantered to her 13th ODI ton in just 50 balls, the joint-second highest in the format and the fastest for India, proved insufficient in salvaging a win for her side. India tallied 369 in 47 overs, the highest that they have managed in the format, yet it wasn't enough to script victory.

Mandhana, the fifth-highest run-scorer in the women's ODIs, set the tone with her flamboyant style after Pratika Rawal (10) and Har...