The White Ferns made a competitive 253-8 in their 50 overs after being asked to bat first by Australian captain Meg Lanning at Bay Oval this morning.
Star of the show yet again was Cantabrian Amy Satterthwaite who was just 15 runs short of scoring a world record fifth consecutive ODI century when she was dismissed in the 47th over.
The elegant left hander holds the record of four consecutive centuries along with Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara.
Satterthwaite made use of three dropped catches by the Australian fielders to finish on 85 off 117 balls, with just two boundaries and one six testimony to her ability to rotate the strike and find gaps in the outfield.
The White Ferns innings was centred around in three significant partnerships involving Satterthwaite. She put on 87 with wicketkeeper Katey Martin for the third wicket, with Martin making a hard-hit 43 off just 51 balls, and 40 for the second wicket with captain Suzie Bates who was out stumped for 35. Katie Perkins made a belligerent 38 off 36 balls in a partnership of 63 with Satterthwaite for the fifth wicket.