Cricket: Aussies pip White Ferns to take Rose Bowl 3-1

Australian captain Jodie Fields poses with the Rose Bowl after winning game four against the White Ferns. Photo / Getty Images

Australia defeated the White Ferns by seven runs in the final Rose Bowl match at North Sydney Oval yesterday, securing a 3-1 series win in the process.

Chasing Australia's 267 for nine, the White Ferns required 14 off the last over, but fell short at 260 for eight.

Lucy Doolan and Suzie Bates started the pursuit well, putting on a 48-run stand for the first wicket. Doolan made 30 from 27, before being caught off the bowling of Megan Schutt.

Bates continued her fantastic series with 54 from 70 balls, while Amy Satterthwaite (38) backed up the openers to help the White Ferns through to 133 for three.

Katie Perkins (40) and Nicola Browne (63) then combined to get their side within striking distance at 220 for four. The turning point came when Perkins was run out, triggering a mini-collapse.

Browne, though, remained and with three wickets in hand needed 14 off the last over. She was then caught off the first ball, effectively ending the White Ferns' chances.

Schutt was solid, with two wickets from her 10 overs, while Perry was on target at the end of the innings when she knocked over Rachel Priest and Sara McGlashan.

Earlier, Australia again got off to a strong start and set a good platform for their middle order to build on.

A second-wicket partnership worth 58 between Rachael Haynes (32) and Jess Cameron (66) took the home side to 73 for one. It took a great piece of fielding from Katie Perkins to break the stand, with Haynes run out in the 12th over.

That brought last match's centurion Meg Lanning to the crease. Alongside Cameron, she kept the momentum for Australia and put on 58 for the third wicket.

Cameron brought up her half-century, before being dismissed by Satterthwaite in the 21st over.

The White Ferns now look towards the ICC World Cup in India, which begins late next month.