The Australian Diamonds have leveled the Constellation Cup series at one-all after a 48-42 win over the Silver Ferns in Auckland.
Australia coach Lisa Alexander celebrated in her 100th Test in charge of the Diamonds with a comfortable victory in the second match of the four game series.
Australian shooter Gretel Tippett (23/24) was supreme under the ring, ably assisted by captain Caitlin Bassett (17/20) and Tegan Philip (8/9).
New Zealand meanwhile had a night to forget in the shooting circle with just a 71 percent success rate.
Australia Goal keeper Courtney Bruce subdued the Maria Folau-led Silver Ferns attack with an intensity that lifted the whole Diamonds side.
The four-Test series now heads to Sydney and Perth, where the Silver Ferns will aim to win the series for the first time in seven years.
Australia’s three-goal quarter-time lead was whittled to one when a contentious stepping call on Gretel Tippett went against the goal attack.
Australia boasted a 10-goal lead at one stage in the match that should have killed the contest.
Instead, Folau roared the Silver Ferns to life with a superb run.
The veteran attacker had a chance to narrow the lead to three on the eve of the last change, only to miss a long-range effort to end a damaging streak.
Bassett sat out the fourth quarter, with Philip deputising superbly as the Diamonds shut out hopes of a Kiwi comeback.
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