This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A beautifully-paced century to Amy Satterthwaite carried New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Australia in the first match of the Rose Bowl series in Auckland.

Satterthwaite continued a scarcely-believable international summer with 102 not out as the White Ferns reached 276-5 with five balls to spare.

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The Southern Stars were dismissed for 275 off 48.4 overs at Eden Park Outer Oval, built around a century to opener Beth Mooney. It looked to be enough when New Zealand were reduced to 178-4 with 14.1 overs remaining.

A better than run-a-ball 29 from Katie Perkins gave the chase impetus but it was the late clean hitting of Satterthwaite that proved decisive, striking most of her nine boundaries in the closing overs.

The 30-year-old from Canterbury has now scored centuries in her last four one-day international innings. The previous three came during the series sweep of Pakistan in November.

She has been dismissed just once in scoring 477 runs over that period and New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, who scored 55 as opener, could only marvel at her veteran team-mate’s golden run.

“When Amy’s out in the middle, you know you’re in safe hands and I thought that innings was absolutely outstanding and probably one of her best for New Zealand when we really needed it,” Bates said.

Satterthwaite says she had to knuckle down when cramp began to affect her midway through her 113-ball knock. “I had a bit of a slow start, I was struggling to hit some gaps, so I had to eventually make up for it,” she said. “I probably timed it better as I got more tired.”

Southern Stars skipper Meg Lanning praised both centurions, including the patient knock from left-hander Mooney.

Elyse Villani and Rachael Haynes scored 50 each but the tail was rolled cheaply by White Ferns seamers Lea Tahuhu (4-59) and Holly Huddleston (3-46).

Lanning said a patchy bowling performance would need to improve when the two final matches of the series are played in Mount Maunganui next week.

Australia have successfully defended the Rose Bowl in the 12 series since reclaiming it in 2000.