'Timid' Stars need to be brave: Lanning

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars skipper Meg Lanning says her team were simply too timid with the bat in their five-wicket loss to India in Sunday's third and final one-day international.

Quick Single: India avoid series sweep

Having spoken of their desire to become a '300 team' in the lead-up to the match and electing to bat first at Blundstone Arena, the Southern Stars top-order struggled to make the runs flow freely against a disciplined India bowling effort, who restricted them to 7-231 from their 50 overs.

Only Alex Blackwell (60 off 64) among the top order scored at a run a ball.

WATCH: Blackwell powers Stars in Hobart

"We've got to try and take the game on a little more when things aren’t going as we'd like," Lanning said after the match.

"I think it's a lot about mindset and really just trying to make ourselves take an extra risk, we were probably a little timid when their bowlers were going well.

"That's going to happen, but we have to try and move things back in our favour.

"We probably haven't done that enough throughout the series. We've spoken about it a lot but we haven't been able to do it. We need to do it if we want to beat the best sides."

Defending a below-par total the Southern Stars also let several chances slip by in the field, with India captain Mithali Raj put down on 69 and Punam Raut given a life on nought, something Lanning said the team would need to work on heading into their upcoming campaigns in New Zealand and India.

"It's not training or not playing enough, but we probably weren’t concentrating hard enough," she said.

"It looks sloppy when that happens and when you've only got 230 on the board you've got to try and save every run.

"It wasn't a complete performance that's for sure in all areas, so there's plenty to look back on and improve on."

WATCH: India avoid series sweep

The Southern Stars will have their fingers crossed that Alyssa Healy is cleared of any serious damage after leaving the field with a possible left hamstring injury in the seventh over of India's chase.

The wicketkeeper took no further part in the match as a precaution and is set to be assessed by Cricket Australia's Sports Doctor John Orchard on Monday, with just a 10-day break before Australia set off for their tour of New Zealand.

Quick Megan Schutt also left the field having only bowled five overs, as a precaution due to some knee soreness.

"I think (Healy) is okay, she'll see the doctor tomorrow and go from there. Hopefully it's nothing too serious and she'll be right for New Zealand," Lanning said.

"Schutt just had a bit of knee soreness, that was nothing too serious. I'm sure she'll be fine for the next series."

While Australia walked away with a 2-1 series win, which has moved them clear on top of the ICC Women's ODI Championship table, Lanning wants to carry on their winning momentum with a tough series in New Zealand, where the Southern Stars will play three ODIs and three T20s, starting later this month.

"It's frustrating, I would have liked to have finished off better but there's lots of work to do heading into the next series," she said.

"New Zealand are going to be very tough, they had a number of players out in the WBBL this season and they were all in very good form. 

"It'll be a very tough challenge for us in their home conditions, but I don’t think we could ask for better preparation for the World T20 than playing against them."

The Southern Stars' first ODI against New Zealand is scheduled for February 20 at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval, with a squad for the tour expected to be announced early this week.