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Chaotic finish to dominant summer the perfect Cup prep

Australia captain Meg Lanning pleased with how her team adapted on a wild and unpredictable night in Tauranga

Not even torrential rain, an ageing pitch, a spinner running rampant and a last-minute change to travel plans could not thwart Australia's record winning run.

If anything, captain Meg Lanning believes Saturday night's third ODI against New Zealand will only have made her dominant ODI outfit even stronger, lauding the game as perfect preparation for the kinds of challenges that could confront her team in next year's ODI World Cup.

So bad was the forecast for Saturday's match in Mount Manganui that there was considerable chatter both on broadcast and on social media about the ramifications of a washout on Australia's record winning streak. Complete abandonment of the game would have left the record intact as a 'no result' isn't counted in official records, but so much as the flip of a coin before a washed out game would have stopped the streak in its tracks.

When play did start, four hours late, it was reduced to 25 overs a side, triggering a swift change in Australia's approach as they reverted to their typical T20 batting order.

In the backs of the minds of the Australian players was also their impending 2am bus departure for Auckland airport, with Thursday's news of a fresh community COVID-19 case in New Zealand and fears of border closures enough to convince the group to bring forward their planned Monday departure to early Sunday morning.

None of those factors were enough to throw Australia off their game, with Lanning praising her squad's adaptability after they defended 149 in tough batting conditions.

Image Id: CCAD76F9869F47A78D72E4909880E66F Image Caption: Australia's spinners did the job on Saturday night // Getty

"It was great to have to work through it today," Lanning said after her team sealed a 21-run win.

"For a long time, it looked like we weren't going to get on, but we were able to switch on when we needed to.

"It's a balancing act because you don't want to spend too much energy during the rain break, it's up to individuals how we deal with it.

"Once we got the nod, Motty spoke about making sure we were switched on and I think we did that, for the most part."

Australia will return to New Zealand next March for the ODI World Cup, the sole piece of silverware missing from an overwise overflowing trophy cabinet.

Lanning declared their six-match reconnaissance mission a success, with experienced gained and intel gleaned from T20I matches in Hamilton and Napier, and the three ODIs in Tauranga, to be critical in planning for the event.

"The conditions (on Saturday) were tricky for batting, the wicket was the same one we played on for the first two games," Lanning said.

"It was holding a bit and that's probably what we'll get through the World Cup, when we play at the same venues over and over again.

"I think there's still a fair bit we can improve on and learn from, but this game was a great lesson for us.

Darcie Brown receives ODI cap No. 144 from Shelley Nitschke

"Overall, we achieved what we wanted to. We experienced the conditions we'll be back playing in in 12 months' time, we introduced a couple of new players to our squad and they've been excellent coming in, we were able to continue improving and winning as well.

"Overall, it's been very successful."

While the majority of the players and staff will return home on Sunday, Lanning is one of several players, alongside spinner Molly Strano, who will stay on in New Zealand to make the most of a well-earned break before their pre-season commences in late May.

The period of leave is a welcome one after a season that started in mid-September.

Like many of her Australia teammates, Lanning will head to The Hundred in July and August, before a hectic home summer featuring a series against India, the seventh edition of the WBBL and an Ashes before the ODI World Cup in New Zealand.

"It's exciting, I'm looking forward to it," Lanning said.

"We don't holiday too much, and it was too good of an opportunity to miss.

"It's been a long season and we get a break now. I feel like we've trained and trained and trained, and it was nice to play some games over here and I think everyone is looking forward to some time off."

CommBank tour of New Zealand 2021

Australia ODI & T20I Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck

New Zealand ODI squad: Amy Satterthwaite (capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

1st T20: Australia won by six wickets

2nd T20: New Zealand won by four wickets

3rd T20: Play abandoned due to rain

1st ODI: Australia won by six wickets

2nd ODI: Australia won by 71 runs

3rd ODI: Australia won by 21 runs

All matches will be shown live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo