CRICKET - Nail-biter puts NZ on top

A stumping off the last ball at Whangarei's Cobham Oval means the White Ferns are just one win away from clinching the transtasman Rosebowl series.
The White Ferns batted first yesterday and ran up an impressive total of 218/7, which they defended with just four runs to spare.
The second of the five-match series went down to the wire, after a 113-run third-wicket partnership between Australian captain Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar steadied the visitors after a poor start.
The Australians were down 16/2 in the early stages, but Rolton and Sthalekar brought experience and composure to the pitch, before Rolton was dismissed for 62 off the bowling of Suzie Bates.
Leah Poulton fell for just four shortly afterwards, before Jessica Cameron chipped in with a useful 26.
But Australia never recovered after the partnership broke, and when Sthalekar fell for 72 the lower order crumbled for single figures.
Emma Sampson was out for six off the last ball after a stumping by keeper Rachel Priest off the medium pace of Beth McNeill.
A captain's knock of 64 from Haidee Tiffen anchored the White Ferns' score of 218/7.
The White Ferns were required to chase just 151 to win the first match on Sunday, but batted first and ran up a more impressive first-innings total yesterday after the pitch had had two days to dry out.
White Ferns coach, and former Canterbury player, Gary Stead was very impressed with Cobham Oval.
"I didn't think it was a bad pitch on Sunday at all, there was a bit of rain just before the game but I think the score then was more reflective of the teams just getting things sorted out," he said.
The Rosebowl Series, which New Zealand last won 10 years ago, has been played at Lincoln in Christchurch for the past few but is touring this year to take in Seddon Park and the Basin Reserve, which Stead said was good promotion for women's cricket.
"These matches are also a really good warm-up for the World Cup for us," he said.
National umpiring manager Roger McHarg was match manager yesterday, and said it was obvious a lot of work had gone into Cobham Oval, by both Northland Cricket and local entities like the council.
"There have been something like 18 games on the surface this season, and it's standing up really well."
The third Rosebowl match is on Friday in Hamilton.