When the first drinks break was taken at the end of 20 overs Australia had raced to 99 without loss. Belinda Clark was 52 not out and Lisa Sthalekar.

It was Clark's 27th One-Day International half century and she is within striking distance of becoming the only person other than retired New Zealand batsman Debbie Hockley to achieve 4000 ODI runs.

Clark was especially thriving on the good batting pitch and she and opening partner Lisa Sthalekar had their 50 partnership on the board from 51 balls.

The opening attack of Nicola Browne and Kate Pulford were well and truly put through the wringer with Brown's first four overs costing 21 and Pulford's 26.

Clark did have one nervous moment when third umpire Tony Hill called for the third umpire to adjudicate on a run out and while the replay clearly showed that wicket-keeper Rebecca Rolls took the bails off without having held onto the ball, the third umpire John Varcoe caused a problem when pressing the red light button by mistake.

Clark stayed and continued to dominate in the fashion expected of a player of her class and experience and she was playing her shots all around the ground.

The further the innings went, the more confidence Sthalekar showed and she was especially effective on the sweep.

New Zealand had already used five bowlers by the 14th over, after Emily Drumm, who had Clark dropped off by Rolls off her first ball, then went for 15 runs in her two overs.

She brought on off-spinner Aimee Mason who bowled the cheapest over of the innings to date for one run.

That seemed to make an impression on Amanda Green who also bowled the 15th over for one run to see Australia to 77 without loss. Clark was 37 not out off 54 balls and Sthalekar 27 off 36.

The early loss of key batsmen Rebecca Rolls and Emily Drumm cost New Zealand dearly but some solid efforts were made down the order by Maia Lewis and Aimee Mason to at least help New Zealand reach a competitive total.

Both fell to legendary Australian fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick who ended the innings with five wickets for 27 runs, her third five-wicket bag while her opening partner Emma Twining took her career best figures of three for 31

New Zealand's tail order collapsed abysmally with the last six wickets all bowled, the last five falling in the space of 14 balls and for a cost of only nine runs.

Mason was into action from the word go and her square drive for four runs for her first boundary was an indication of how she saw her role.

They came together when New Zealand had just reached 100 in the 37th over. They added 47 before Lewis' innings was ended by Cathryn Fitzpatrick when she bowled her for 43 runs off 85 balls. New Zealand were 147 for five as Sara McGlashan joined Mason.

Mason did have one piece of luck when on 18. She launched into a ball from Alex Blackwell which pitched just short of a hesitant Lisa Sthalekar at long on. Instead of making an effort to catch the ball, Sthalekar let it bounce and on the sun-baked outfield it bounced over her head to the boundary.

It was the second unusual occurrence in the innings. Earlier Karen Rolton had completely lost her grip on the ball as she bowled to Lewis and the ball flew high over her head allowing New Zealand to run two wides.

McGlashan was quickly into her exciting strokeplay and none of her early shots was better than a lofted straight drive for four off Emma Twining's bowling. She followed that with three to fine leg.

However, after taking two runs from the first ball of the next over bowled by Fitzpatrick she was bowled attempting a big drive with her 13 runs coming off 11 balls. New Zealand, in the 48th over were 167 for seven wickets.

Fitzpatrick's fine figures were backed by Julie Hayes who took one for 24, Karen Rolton who took none for 27, both off 10 overs.

Then just when they should have been celebrating bringing up New Zealand's 100, Tiffen was run out when trying for a second run.

As New Zealand took the second drinks break they were 112 for four wickets with Lewis on 30 having been joined by Aimee Mason who impressed immediately with a lovely square driven boundary off Clea Smith's bowling.

Lewis went down the pitch to Lisa Sthalekar and despatched the ball through to the extra cover boundary to bring up 30 runs.

New Zealand lost Michelle Lynch just after the first drinks break when she lobbed a ball to mid on where Australian captain Belinda Clark held the catch. It was an unfortunate dismissal for New Zealand as Lynch was just starting to take the attack to the Australians.

She had scored 28 runs off 64 balls nd when she was dismissed New Zealand were 54 for three.

Lewis, who is on the comeback trail after seven years out of international cricket, and Tiffen, one of the most exciting of New Zealand's players then began a long slow haul to regain the balance.

They reached the 36th over having done the hard work and in need of lifting their run rate. Eight runs came from it but disaster then struck in the 37th over with Tiffen run out for 28.

Already completed were the bowling stints of Karen Rolton who conceded 27 runs while Julie Hayes had one wicket for 24.

Both were victims of Australia's outstanding fast bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick who relished the conditions of the new pitch being used for the match on Bert Sutcliffe Oval. The pitch had good pace and was providing batsmen with the chance to go for their shots.

But Fitzpatrick got one through the dangerous Rolls' defence to have her leg before wicket for one run when the score was only seven, while Drumm hit two boundaries in her first three balls but then went scoreless for the next 14 before firing a catch in the direction of gully where Michelle Goszko held the catch when the score was 17.

It was an impressive spell by Fitzpatrick who also made good use of her entitlement to fire in one bouncer an over. Her first spell of five overs resulted in two wickets for 10 runs.

Rolls' opening partner Michelle Lynch took up where she left off in her last game by attempting to attack whenever possible. She was especially successful in playing square of the wicket through the off side while both she and Maia Lewis made good use of the leg glance off fuller balls.

They helped bring up the 50 in the 18th over, courtesy of a sweetly-timed cover drive that was pulled in just short of the boundary with three runs being taken by Lewis.

When drinks were taken, New Zealand were 52 for two wickets with Lynch on 28 from 60 balls and Lewis nine off 24.

Emma Twining had none for 12 from her six overs, Karen Rolton had 11 off her three overs and Julie Hayes none for 14 off four overs.

The game is being played on Bert Sutcliffe Oval and is being held on New Zealand's national holiday, Waitangi Day.

While the match might be dead in terms of the tournament, there is still plenty to play for because the Rosebowl series contested between the two sides on an annual basis will be up for grabs today.

The two teams are scheduled to meet in the tournament final on Saturday. And if New Zealand can win today the final will double as a Rosebowl final.

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first in perfect conditions on Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Nicola Payne has been troubled by the hamstring injury she suffered earlier in the tournament and that has been compounded by her also suffering the 'flu.

New Zealand: Emily Drumm (captain), Michelle Lynch, Rebecca Rolls, Maia Lewis, Haidee Tiffen, Kate Pulford, Aimee Mason, Sara McGlashan, Nicola Browne, Amanda Green, Rebecca Steele. (12th man - Frances King).

Australia: Belinda Clark (captain), Lisa Sthalekar, Karen Rolton, Michelle Goszko, Melanie Jones, Alex Blackwell, Julie Hayes, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Julia Price, Clea Smith, Emma Twining. (12th man - Kriss Britt).

The umpires are: Tony Hill and Glenn Holdem.