Lanning wants more from Southern Stars

Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars skipper Meg Lanning admits her team's KFC T20 INTL series loss to India has come as a wake-up call ahead of the Women's World T20 in March.

The Southern Stars' rain-affected 10-wicket loss to India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday handed the tourists an unassailable lead in the three-match series against Lanning’s side. 

WATCH: India prove too strong at the MCG

It was also the Southern Stars' fourth loss from their last five T20 matches. 

Lanning said while it was hardly panic stations ahead of Australia's tour of New Zealand next month and their attempt at a fourth-consecutive World T20 title in March, the losses did highlight where they needed to improve.

"There’s always something to learn from every game you play," Lanning said.

"We know that in every international we’re going to have to play well to win.

Quick Single: Female success may help game grow in India

"We probably haven’t played to our potential in these games and India have and they’ve beaten us.

"I suppose it just shows to us that we need to turn up and play well every game."

The Southern Stars head to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday in search of a consolation victory to end the series, before embarking on a three-game one-day international series against India next week. 

Allrounder Jess Jonassen said despite the game being a dead rubber, there was still plenty to play for.

"For us, it's about executing what we want to do," Jonassen said.

"We're the first to admit we haven’t played our best cricket in these first two games, so that's the real challenge and the real focus heading into game three."

"(The World T20) is always in the back of our minds. Any T20 game leading into that tournament is good preparation, and we're trying to find the right formula and right combinations for that yet (and also for) the New Zealand tour next month as well."

Lanning's 49 from 40 balls was the only major contribution from the Southern Stars' batting line-up on Friday, with the hosts losing 5-10 after her freakish run-out at the non-strikers' end. 

WATCH: Lanning's unlucky run out

The Southern Stars finished with 8-125 from their 18 overs, a score that was preceded by totals of 5-140, 111, 107 (which they defended) and 122 in their previous four T20 outings.

Before the start of the series coach Matthew Mott said he wanted higher totals from his team, the reasoning behind the inclusion of big-hitting Naomi Stalenberg in the squad and the elevation of Grace Harris to opener. 

That move hasn't paid off yet, with Harris yet to score a run from her two matches, but Lanning said she had faith in the allrounder, who impressed with the WBBL's first and only century in the early stages of the tournament.

"We’ve got a lot of options. Alyssa (Healy) can come up the order if we need be," Lanning said.

"We’ll certainly look at that. Grace Harris hasn’t come off in these two games but she’s certainly in our plans going forward.

"They just were able to outplay us. We’ve got a lot of improvements to make with New Zealand coming up and the World T20."