Australia 9 for 108 (Britt 39, Browne 3-14) beat New Zealand 7 for 107 (Satterthwaite 25) by 1 run
Scorecard

Kris Britt celebrated her return to the Australia side with 39 from 36 balls and the winning run-out in a tense one-run victory over New Zealand at Darwin. New Zealand needed three from the final ball when Britt's throw from the deep caught Sarah Tsukigawa short attempting the two runs that would have forced the second bowl-off between the teams in nine months.

New Zealand promised before the opener that this Rose Bowl would be as competitive as the last; although Australia whitewashed them last time every result was close, and it was the same again in this Twenty20 warm-up at Darwin. Unfortunately for them, it was also the same result - just pipped at the post.

Nicola Browne, who had earlier starred with the ball, nearly earned a New Zealand triumph and struck two fours as the visitors chased 13 in the last Sarah Andrews over. New Zealand had looked on target to overhaul Australia's total as the openers, Maria Fahey and Aimee Mason, put on 39 before a steady stream of wickets halted their progress.

Amy Satterthwaite, making her international debut, almost guided New Zealand home but was bowled by Emma Sampson for 25 in the 19th over. Sampson claimed 2 for 16 and Lisa Sthalekar took 2 for 15 to keep the pressure on after Australia finished with a disappointing 9 for 108.

At 6 for 53 in the 12th over, the home team was in danger of not surviving for 20 overs when Britt and Jodie Purves (16) started the rescue effort. Britt, whose last international match was an ODI nearly three and a half years ago, scored five fours and built a respectable target after Browne's early fireworks.

Browne removed Melissa Bulow, Karen Rolton and Sthalekar within nine balls early in the innings. However, she also conceded eight costly wides in her three-over spell, finishing with 3 for 14. The five-match Rose Bowl ODI series begins at the same venue, Gardens Oval, on Saturday.