Australia beat the White Ferns by 102 runs at Junction Oval, St Kilda in the third One-Day match of the Rose Bowl series.
A classy 93 from Alex Blackwell and patient 62 from Sarah Elliott provided the cornerstone of the Australian innings after the home side was put into bat.
The pair came to the crease in the ninth over with the score on 17 for two and shared a 154 run partnership, taking the total through to 171 for three.
The White Ferns fought back as Aimee Watkins ran through the middle order but a 49 run partnership between Rachael Haynes (34*) and Ellyse Perry (22*) steadied the innings and provided a lively finish for Australia, propelling them through to the useful total of 238 for seven.
Spinner Watkins finished with four for 60 while new ball bowler Kate Pulford took two for 38.
In a carbon copy of the earlier matches, the White Ferns batting line up couldn’t build a partnership of substance with a number of starts but no one kicking on.
Watkins hit 22, Sara McGlashan 21, Nicola Browne 19 and Amy Satterthwaite 15 with extras chipping in with 18.
All of the Australian bowlers were economical with Shelley Nitschke the most successful with three for 31.
The White Ferns still have a slim chance of winning the Rose Bowl series but will need to win the next two One-Day International’s and two Twenty20’s if they are to take the trophy.
Scorecard - http://www.blackcaps.co.nz/content/scorecard/white-ferns-v-australia-14feb10.aspx
Rose Bowl Series
One-Day Internationals
Wed 10 Feb - Australia won by 115 runs
Thu 11 Feb - Australia won by four wickets
Sun 14 Feb - Australia won by 102 runs
Wed 17 Feb - Australia v White Ferns, St Kilda CG, Melbourne
Thu 18 Feb - Australia v White Ferns, St Kilda CG, Melbourne
Twenty20 Series
Sun 21 Feb - Australia v White Ferns, Bellerive Oval
Mon 22 Feb - Australia v White Ferns, Bellerive Oval
Tue 23 Feb - Australia v White Ferns, Bellerive Oval
