Cricket: Australia secure Rose Bowl

Allrounder Lisa Sthalekar celebrated her 100th one-day international cap with a maiden five-wicket haul as Australia crushed New Zealand by six wickets in the Rose Bowl series decider at Invercargill yesterday.

Australia completed the domination of their Twenty20 nemesis at Queen's Park, effortlessly reaching the 174-run victory target in 37.2 overs.

Their triumph enabled them to sweep the one-day component of the series 3-0 and retain the Rose Bowl after New Zealand made a strong start with back-to-back Twenty20 triumphs.

While New Zealand have had the measure of their transtasman rivals in the shortest form of the game, Australia reign over 50 overs, yesterday's win being their eighth in succession following a 5-0 demolition job on home soil last month.

Sthalekar's career-best figures of five from 35 from eight overs of offspin ensured New Zealand could not post a competitive score after they slumped to 49 for five inside 18 overs.

She claimed the last five wickets to fall including Sophie Devine for 24 and Sara McGlashan, the duo tasked with batting out the overs. Instead New Zealand were chipped out for an unsubstantial 173 in 44 overs.

McGlashan topscored with 46 from 49 balls with four boundaries and the only six of the innings but when she departed in the 38th over, caught by pace bowler Ellyse Perry, New Zealand were beyond salvation.

Sthalekar, 30, eclipsed her previous best bowling figures of four for 20 against India in November 2008.

Australia won the first one-dayer in Queenstown by two wickets.

- NZPA