A career-best bowling display by Lisa Sthalekar guided Australia to a seven-run win in the third women's Twenty20 international against New Zealand.
Sthalekar, who starred with bat and ball in Saturday's second game, claimed 4 for 18 off her four overs on Sunday at North Sydney Oval to restrict the White Ferns to 8 for 127 in reply to Australia's 8 for 134.
"I didn't get runs today but lucky I'm an all-rounder and I was able to pick up a few wickets," the 32-year-old Grandstand.
The victory means the Southern Stars take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-game series, with the next match being played at Sydney's Olympic stadium on February 1.
Alex Blackwell top-scored in Australia's innings, making 41 off 43 while Leah Poulton made a quickfire 35 that included four fours and a six.
New Zealand's innings never really got going and when Sthalekar claimed two wickets in two balls in her final over to leave the White Ferns 6 for 88, Australia was closing in on victory.
That win was all but assured when the visitors lost two wickets to run-outs in consecutive deliveries to slump to 8 for 95.
"We've been working hard on hitting the stumps and it was good to see that paying off today," Sthalekar said.
The two teams next meet at the SCG in the first of three 50-over one-day internationals on Wednesday and Sthalekar says Australia is not going to take its foot off its opponent's throat.
"We're not here to let them in the door," she said.
"Now we go to the 50-over format, little bit more time out in the middle but I'm sure we can win there."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, north-sydney-2060, nsw, australia First posted January 22, 2012 20:31:02
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