In-form Blackwell sets up convincing win

Australia 7 for 238 (Blackwell 92, Elliott 62, Watkins 4-60) beat New Zealand 136 (Nitschke 3-31) by 102 runs
Scorecard

The captain Alex Blackwell narrowly missed a century as Australia wrapped up the ODI series with a 102-run win over New Zealand in Melbourne. While the hosts will have to wait to secure the Rose Bowl Trophy, which also takes in the three Twenty20 fixtures, they own a 3-0 lead with two more one-dayers left to play.

Blackwell, who scored 51 and 34 in the opening games, followed up with 92 off 119 balls to steer Australia to a formidable 7 for 238. The hosts were in trouble at 2 for 17 before being taken forward by the opener Blackwell and Sarah Elliott, who collected a measured 62.

The 154-run stand was Australia's second highest for the third wicket and put the side into a strong position. Aimee Watkins, the offspinner, picked up both Blackwell and Elliott on the way to 4 for 60 off nine overs.

New Zealand have struggled with the bat throughout the series and the Australians continued their hold over them by dismissing them for 136. Ellyse Perry and Sarah Andrews picked up an early wicket each before Watkins started the recovery with 22.

They were in reasonable shape at 4 for 93 but lost 6 for 43 to finish the match. Shelley Nitschke, the left-arm spinner, returned the best figures with 3 for 31 while Lisa Sthalekar and Elliott picked up two victims each.