We've got plenty left in the tank: Blackwell

Alex Blackwell is confident Australia have "plenty more left in the tank" after they levelled the Rose Bowl series with a four-wicket win against New Zealand in Thursday's second one-day international.

Vice-captain Blackwell led the way with a match-winning 65 as the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars set up a series decider at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval on Sunday.

Quick Single: Aussies level Rose Bowl series

Australia chased New Zealand's 8-253 with 16 balls to spare, but Blackwell can still see room for improvement from the batting line-up.

"I think there's a little bit left in the tank and we'll really come out and try and keep our (17-year hold) on the Rose Bowl in a couple of days," Blackwell said.

"It feels good to be put under pressure again from this Kiwi side and win.

"Today it was really thinking about scoring ones and twos. I think we really did that nicely in partnerships.

"We had a couple of 50-run partnerships, but we'd probably have liked to make them a bit bigger and I'd have liked to have finished not out too.

"Now the series is level and we've got it all to play for next match."

Returning to the Australia XI on Thursday after missing the opener in Auckland with a hamstring injury, Blackwell saw off a hat-trick ball from teenage leg-spinner Amelia Kerr before posting her 23rd one-day half-century, putting the Southern Stars within 17 runs of victory before she was caught top-edging off Anna Peterson on 65.

"It's never nice to have to play a hat-trick ball," Blackwell said.

"I was just thinking about playing it as straight as possible and it was a bonus to score off it. That settled me.

"I've not really suffered from injuries mid-tour so that was something new for me."

But while Blackwell made a successful comeback from injury, Australia will be sweating on the fitness of allrounder Ellyse Perry, who injured her elbow diving in the field early in the White Ferns' innings.

Perry had been prepared to bat if required on Thursday, but didn't return to the field after the incident, having taken 1-9 from her four overs prior to the injury.

"It was a pretty innocuous fall and our bowlers pride themselves on stopping the ball of their own bowling," Blackwell said.

"It was a good effort but she landed awkwardly.

"I'm not sure what's happened there, but she's such a professional and she comes back from injury quickly, so let's hope she's fully fit for the next match."

While Perry's fitness is a concern, one very pleasing sign for Australia is the form of Beth Mooney, who added 57 to her century from the opening ODI and appears to have cemented her position at the top of the order ahead of the World Cup in England this June.

"Beth's playing really well and has such control at the top.

"She runs beautifully as well, her running between the wickets is really what sets the tone.

A measured 36 from Alyssa Healy, who shared a 71-run stand with Blackwell, was also crucial for the Southern Stars.

Australia made four changes for Thursday's match, bringing in Blackwell, Perry, quick Rene Farrell and debutant allrounder Ashleigh Gardner.

The decision to go with Gardner's off-spin to try and curb the scoring of the in-form Amy Satterthwaite left in-form leg-spinner Kristen Beams surprisingly sitting on the sidelines, with Blackwell not envying the job of Australia's selectors.

"With Gardner coming in, it was crucial to have that option against Amy Satterthwaite.

"It's a very difficult XI to pick at the moment, there are some very good cricketers sitting on the sidelines in fantastic form.

"It's a good problem to have for the Australian side, we underperformed in the earlier matches in the series but we know we improved in that first one-dayer which we were disappointed to lose.

"We knew we were still on the right track and we had a great win today."

Image Id: C94A5709C1CE414D8622943BD75B4039