Australia have forced the women's Rose Bowl ODI series to a decider after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in Mount Maunganui.
Set a respectable target of 254 by the White Ferns, the Southern Stars made relatively easy work of the target and strolled to victory in the 48th over, scoring 6-256.
Meg Lanning scored a handy 44 off 43 balls for the Aussies, while opener Beth Mooney (57) and Alex Blackwell (65) notched up half centuries.
The trio were simply not put under enough pressure by an expensive White Ferns pace attack, with only 16-year-old spinner Amelia Kerr causing damage with 4-54.
The two sides will now play a winner-takes-all clash in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, with the White Ferns looking for their first Rose Bowl since 1999.
They may be boosted by the potential absence of star Australian allrounder Ellyse Perry, who injured her elbow while bowling.
Sent in to bat by the Australians, New Zealand secured a competitive 8-253 on the back of a slow-burning 85 (from 117 balls) from Amy Satterthwaite.
Looking for a record fifth consecutive ODI century, the 29-year-old started very slowly before looking to belt the side home.
But the plan backfired and she skied a Rene Farrell delivery straight to Elyse Villani at deep extra cover in thre 47th over.
Katey Martin scored 43 from 51 balls while Katie Perkins hit a better than a run-a-ball 38 before her late dismissal.
In response, the Southern Stars also started slowly, suffering an early loss of wicket when Holly Huddleston clean-bowled Nicole Bolton for 17 in the seventh over.
Yet Lanning and Mooney were irrepressible as a second-wicket partnership, putting on 87 runs in less than 14 overs.
Mooney, who scored a century in Sunday's first ODI in Auckland, took the back seat to the 2015 women's ODI cricketer of the year as Lanning hit out aggressively.
Teenager Kerr gave her side a lifeline in the 21st over with two wickets in two balls, bamboozling Lanning and Villani with inch-perfect top-spinners.
Mooney lasted several overs more alongside Blackwell before she too was cleaned up by Kerr.
However, Australia maintained their composure with Alyssa Healy scoring 36 in an 81-run stand with Blackwell that put their team within 35 runs of the target in the 41st over.
