Australia v New Zealand, 3rd women's ODI, Darwin

Australia cruise to six-wicket win in Rose Bowl

Cricinfo staff

July 25, 2007

Australia 4 for 188 (Bulow 51) beat New Zealand 8 for 187 (Browne 50*, Andrews 3-23, Nitschke 3-34) by six wickets
Scorecard

Sarah Andrews rattled the New Zealand top order and finished with 3 for 23 © Getty Images

Alex Blackwell and Jodie Purves eased Australia to a 2-1 lead in the Rose Bowl series, guiding the home side to a six-wicket in Darwin. Chasing 188, Australia started well with Melissa Bulow top-scoring with 51 before a 71-run partnership between Blackwell and Purves confirmed the victory with 25 balls to spare.

Blackwell was unbeaten on 44 and Purves made 36 not out - her highest ODI score - as Australia tightened their grip on the five-match series. Nicola Browne was New Zealand's best player with 2 for 27 to follow her third one-day half-century.

Browne helped New Zealand restore some stability after they won the toss and stumbled to 3 for 13. She finished unbeaten on 50 and there were also valuable contributions from Maria Fahey (45) and the debutant wicketkeeper Rachel Priest, who made 42.

Sarah Andrews was responsible for New Zealand's early trouble, removing Aimee Mason and Sarah Tsukigawa in her dangerous opening spell. Andrews took 3 for 23 and Shelley Nitschke chipped in late in the innings to finish with 3 for 34.

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