Mithali Raj played a captain's knock of 88 not out and guided India to a six-wicket victory over visiting Australians in the sixth women's one-day international cricket match at the IPCL ground in Baroda on Friday.

Mithali struck eleven fours in her 146-ball innings and put on a match-winning 110-run third wicket stand with Hemlata Kala (43, in 70 balls) to lift India past the Australian total of 184 for 7 with ten balls to spare.

The home team were in a bit of a bother at 20 for 2 in the eighth over before Mithali and Kala joined forces to take the score to 130.

After Kala fell, Anju Jain (27) helped Mithali add 45 runs to place the hosts well in sight of victory.

Earlier, the Aussies - who had already clinched the best-of-seven series by taking a 4-1 lead into Friday's clash, rode on Lisa Sthalekar's knock of 43 and opener Belinda Clark's 35 to set the target after being asked to bat first.

The visitors got off to a brisk start when Clark and Lisa Keightley put on 70 runs before losing their way.

The final match of the rubber is scheduled at Chennai on December 28.

Brief Scores

Australia 184 for 7 (Belinda Clark 35, Lisa Sthalekar 43, J Goswami 2 for 29, N David 2 for 36) lost to India 185 for 4 (Mithali Raj 88, Hemlata Kala 43, Clea Smith 2 for 13).