Lanning century leads Stars to Rose Bowl win

RE-WATCH THE THIRD ODI COURTESY OF NEW ZEALAND CRICKET

A second straight century from Meg Lanning has sealed a Rose Bowl series win for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, as they claimed a thriller against the White Ferns in the third and final one-dayer on Wednesday.

Set an imposing 244 for victory, Lanning's superb 135 (127) saw her team home with six wickets in hand and eight balls to spare, to seal a 2-1 series win.

While she was denied the chance to score the winning runs when she fell with four runs required, it mattered little as Alyssa Healy came out and struck a boundary to continue the Stars' 16-year unbeaten run over New Zealand.

A slow start to the chase meant the run rate had crept to a run a ball by the mid-way point of Australia's innings, but Lanning combined in two outstanding partnerships, first with Ellyse Perry (35) and then with Alex Blackwell (50 not out) to guide her team into a winning position.

After Bates' seventh ODI ton led the Black Caps to 5-243, their new-ball pair Lea Tahuhu and Morna Nielson shackled openers Nicole Bolton and Beth Mooney from the first ball, with Bolton mishitting off the toe of her bat to depart for a duck in the second over.

The pressure initially only intensified when Lanning strode to the crease, with scoring shots few and far between as the run rate crept up before Mooney found herself bowled after taking a big swing at a Sophie Devine delivery.

Lanning and Perry produced a match-winning partnership to chase 207 at a gallop in the second one-dayer and again worked hard to lift the run rate, putting on 77 runs for the third wicket before Perry was caught and bowled by former Scotland international Leigh Kasperek just as she and Lanning appeared to be getting on top of the Kiwi attack.

In the first one-dayer Australia had found themselves in a similarly challenging position, but where they panicked last Saturday and lost quick wickets, this time Lanning and experienced vice-captain Alex Blackwell kept their heads.

When Blackwell joined Lanning at the crease, the vice-captain took on the role of inventor, taking the risks while Lanning continued to work the singles and pounce on bad balls.

It was an effective strategy, as their 129-run stand frustrated the White Ferns attack and ultimately won the match, Blackwell scoring her 21st career fifty on the way.

While the Australian skipper had made a tentative start after the early loss of Bolton, she became increasingly aggressive, bringing up her half-century from 57 balls before going on to score her eighth ODI ton – putting her second on the all-time list of women's century-makers.

Only England captain Charlotte Edwards has scored more, with nine.

Earlier, New Zealand captain Suzie Bates ensured it would not be an easy series victory for the tourists, scoring a brilliant 110 from 132 deliveries to lead her team to their biggest total of the series.

Ably supported by Amy Satterthwaite (44) and Sara McGlashan (46), Bates led the White Ferns to 4-286 and ensured Australia will need to produce another strong performance with the bat if they are to continue their 16-year undefeated streak in trans-Tasman ODI series.

Bates and fellow opener Rachel Priest looked positive from the outset, attacking the bowling of Megan Schutt and Perry.

While Priest's run of low scores continued, trapped lbw by Perry for nine, Bates was joined by Satterthwaite and the pair continued the attack to reach 1-41 from the first 10 overs.

Tight bowling from Sarah Coyte and Rene Farrell was able to slow the Kiwis, allowing just 34 runs from the next 10 overs, but the Australians were still unable to find the key wickets needed to contain the hosts.

A mix-up brought Satterthwaite's knock to an unlucky end on 44, but McGlashan proved another solid partner for Bates, whose seventh ODI ton saw her draw level – albeit briefly – with Lanning on the all-time list of one-day century makers.