New Zealand 209 (Mason 102) beat Australia 174 (Mason 3-15, Tsukigawa 3-27) by 35 runs
Scorecard

Aimee Mason picked a perfect time to post her maiden one-day hundred before she floored Australia with the ball as New Zealand levelled the five-match Rose Bowl series at 1-1. Mason's previous high in 57 matches was 71, but she comfortably extended her career best with 102 and went within an over of carrying her bat in Darwin.

The performance was the only New Zealand score above Sara McGlashan's 28 and it was responsible for the challenging total of 209. After hitting 13 fours and a six from her 128 balls, Mason then captured the wickets of Shelley Nitschke (24), Kate Blackwell and Sarah Edwards to gain figures of 3 for 15 off ten overs and give Australia some severe headaches.

Karen Rolton, the captain, tried to steer her side back into contention, but when she departed for 27 Australia were in serious trouble at 6 for 134 and they fell 35 runs short. Sarah Tsukigawa was on a hat-trick after removing Sarah Andrews and Clea Smith - consecutive wides stopped her adding a third victim in a row - and she ended with 3 for 27.

Australia's main bright spot was the performance of Ellyse Perry, who at 16 years and 261 days became the country's youngest debutant in a national cricket team. Perry bowled eight overs for 37, picking up the wickets of Maria Fahey and McGlashan, chipped in with the run out of Rowan Milburn and scored 19 before she was last out.

"I was a little nervous before I came on to bowl," Perry told AAP. "It was good to get my first wicket because it gave me more confidence with my bowling and helped me to get through it. It was very exciting and great fun."