Australia chase 288 to draw level

Australia Women's openers, Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes, scored quick half-centuries that laid a platform which helped their team chase New Zealand's formidable total with 20 balls to spare in Sydney. The four-wicket victory helped the home side level the series 1-1 with two games to play.

Lanning made 72 off 53 balls and Haynes scored 70 off 75. Their 131-run stand took just 18.2 overs and gave Australia an ideal start to the chase of 288. The middle order slumped, though, and they went from 169 for 1 to 199 for 5. Morna Nielsen did the damage for New Zealand, and finished with figures of 3 for 36. The run rate had stayed above six an over, however, so the asking rate was never an issue for Australia.

Jodie Fields and Sarah Coyte steadied the chase with a 60-run stand for the sixth wicket and Coyte stayed the course, scoring 51 off 54 balls, to achieve victory in the 47th over.

Australia's feats overshadowed a powerful performance from New Zealand's top order after the visitors had been asked to bat. Suzie Bates and Amy Satterthwaite added 115 for the second wicket and Bates and Sara McGlashan put on 102 for the third. Bates followed up her century in the previous game with 59; Satterthwaite made 109 off 119 balls, her maiden ODI century; and McGlashan contributed 51. They reached 240 for 2 in 44 overs before McGlashan and Satterthwaite were dismissed in the next two. Katie Perkins blitzed 31 off 15 balls to lead New Zealand to 288 for 6, but it proved inadequate.

New Zealand suffered another blow when Sophie Devine had to return home because of a peroneal tendon injury in her left foot. The injury had ruled her out of the first two ODIs.