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comfortable 22-run win over Australia at McLean Park, Napier, yesterday.

A commanding batting display set the platform for New Zealand's 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

The loss of wickets at crucial times kept Australia on the back foot and unable to keep up with the required run rate.

``It's always good to win the first one,'' New Zealand coach Ann McKenna said afterwards.

``I think Maia (Lewis) did an excellent job with the bowling changes and field placements and it was great for her to have a win in her first game as captain.''

Australia had an early setback in its chase for 228 to win the match when opener Lisa Keightley was the first wicket to fall in just the eighth over with the score at 18.

The visitors adopted a cautious approach with steady batting from captain Belinda Clark and Zoe Goss.

A 50-run partnership off 78 balls by Clark and Goss put Australia back in the frame as they continued to build the innings in confident manner.

The introduction of right-arm slow bowler Debbie Hockley to the bowling attack proved decisive when the part-time bowler, who had earlier starred with the bat as New Zealand's top scorer, captured the prize wicket of Goss with the second ball of her first over.

Tight bowling put the seal on the match for the New Zealand team, which outplayed its trans-Tasman rivals on the day in all departments.

``It was a good game all up and 200 runs off both teams was a good effort,'' Australian coach John Harmer said.

``The New Zealand girls batted very well at the start and that set them up for a big score which was always going to be hard to chase.'' While Harmer thought the total gettable, he said his team had not batted well enough. -- NZPA