Lisa Sthalekar hands Australia series win

Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand, clinching a tight win thanks largely to the efforts of Alex Blackwell, Leah Poulton and Lisa Sthalekar. After Australia chose to bat, Poulton guided her team's innings inside the first 10 overs with 35 off 30 balls, striking four fours and a six. From a tricky 80 for 4, Blackwell took over and batted steadily, scoring 41 off 43 deliveries despite hitting just one boundary. There was some lower-order support from Sarah Coyte and Jess Jonassen, and they stretched Australia's score to a competitive 134 for 8.

New Zealand were in early trouble in the chase, losing their first three wickets for 28, but Amy Satterthwaite (45) and Liz Perry (24) were involved in a threatening 47-run stand. Both scored at better than a run a ball, but Sthalekar, who opened the bowling, struck, removing Perry. Australia picked up wickets at a steady rate, depriving Satterthwaite of partners until she was dismissed herself, the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 95. Morna Nielsen and Katey Martin kept New Zealand's hopes alive during a 32-run stand for the ninth wicket - Nielsen struck two sixes - but it was too late, and New Zealand fell seven short. Sthalekar was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 18 in her four overs.