Australia took three wickets in the final over to edge out the White Ferns by three runs and square the Rose Bowl series two-all in a Twenty20 at Queens Park in Invercargill.
With the home side needing seven off the final over after a late order rally, Clea Smith removed Nicola Browne and Sarah Tsukigawa with Katey Martin run-out as the White Ferns finished on 163 for seven in pursuit of 167.
Liz Perry was left stranded on 33 not out after helping get them close while Amy Satterthwaite top scored with 40 earlier in the innings. Sara McGlashan was again in good touch hitting 31.
Earlier, a hard hit 50 off 31 deliveries by opener Leah Poulton provided the backbone of the Australian innings with useful contributions coming from Alex Blackwell (33) and Jessica Cameron (30).
All-rounder Suzie Bates was the pick of the bowling attack taking four for 26 off three overs while Erin Bermingham returned miserly figures of one for 22 off four.
The teams head to Lincoln for three One-Day Internationals with the first match on Thursday 20 February.
