Melbourne, Feb. 3 : The New Zealand women''s cricket team narrowly beat their Australian counterparts in the annual women''s cricket Rose Bowl series against New Zealand.

Half-centuries by Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar could not save the Australians, and now the White Ferns can capture the five-match series with a victory in the third match to be played in Hamilton on Friday.

The New Zealand brigade defended their total of 7-218 on Tuesday by holding the world champions to 9-214, The Age reports.

The White Ferns last beat Australia in a series way back in 1998, but they looked strong against the Aussies from the very beginning.

After winning their opening game this week by two wickets in Whangarei, the New Zealanders are looking unbeatable.

On Tuesday, they chased down a moderate target and on Tuesday and put together a respectable total before defending it.

Aussies were in strife after the early loss of openers Shelley Nitschke and Alex Blackwell, but bounced back into contention on the back of a superb stand for the third wicket by skipper Rolton and Sthalekar.

The pair took the game by the scruff of the neck to put on a partnership of 113 as New Zealand captain Haidee Tiffen was forced to rotate her bowlers to keep the runs in check.

They only parted when Kate Pulford pulled off a brilliant catch at square leg to remove Rolton for 62, off 86 balls with 10 fours.

Sthalekar later departed for 72, with just four boundaries off 116 deliveries after being declared clean bowled by Suzie Bates (3-40). The Kangaroos were then 5-191 in the
45th over and the momentum had swung as the White Ferns increased the pressure.

Earlier, the New Zealand total had been built around a responsible half-century from Tiffen, who made an unbeaten 64 from 103 balls. Sthalekar was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 2-40 from 10 overs. (ANI)