A measured captain’s knock from captain Meg Lanning has steered Australia to a five-wicket win over New Zealand in the third Rose Bowl one-day international at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui.
The 24-year-old right-hander racked up her 10th ODI century as the Southern Stars chased down the White Ferns’ 9-270 with four balls to spare.
The win means Australia retain the Rose Bowl 2-1 after New Zealand won the opening game in the three-match series.
Lanning hit seven fours and a six in her unbeaten innings, coming to the wicket earlier than expected after Australia lost opener Nicole Bolton without scoring after two overs.
The skipper put on 93 with Beth Mooney for the second wicket before Holly Huddleston picked up two quick wickets to leave Australia 3-110 midway through the 23rd over.
Elyse Villani steadied the ship, adding 72 runs with Lanning before she was trapped lbw for 37 by Huddlestone with 15 overs remaining and the total on 182.
Medium pacer Anna Peterson snared a consolation wicket when she removed Alex Blackwell, caught and bowled for 32, but Alyssa Healy’s quickfire 21 off 16 balls and Lanning’s patient 116-ball innings saw Australia home.
Earlier, the White Ferns looked likely to set an intimidating total but lost their way in the closing stages of their innings, losing 5-38 in the final seven overs.
Suzie Bates and the in-form Amy Satterthwaite put on 60 for the first wicket before the skipper was dismissed for 27 at the end of the 11th over.
Satterthwaite, who had made four centuries in her previous five innings, fell cheaply three overs later for 11.
However, wicket keeper Rachel Priest and Katey Martin put on 97 runs for the third wicket, Priest anchoring the partnership with 77 runs off 101 balls.
Martin and Katie Perkins added another 60 for the fourth wicket before Martin was dismissed for 77 by a superb diving catch from Lanning at mid-off.
But New Zealand’s inexperienced lower order lost momentum, as Jess Jonassen and Ashleigh Gardner both picked three-wicket hauls for the Southern Stars.
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