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to Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday.

A courageous 113 not out by hard-hitting all-rounder Karen Rolton propelled Australia to an unlikely win, when it passed New Zealand's total with two balls to spare, to give the tourists a 4-1 series win.

New Zealand, with the series already lost going into yesterday's match, elected to bat first after winning the toss. For the first time in the series the team ridded itself of previous batting woes to post a competitive 232 for six.

The Kiwis were well in control after knocking the top off the Australian batting order, with the tourists in trouble at 57 for four after 16 overs.

However, the stocky figure of all-rounder Rolton slowly gained the ascendancy with a splendid display of patience and shot selection.

Rolton gave encouragement to her team-mates with her high strike rate, scoring off just about every ball she faced to keep the scoring up with the required run rate.

Still needing 10 off the last over, Rolton slammed two fours to put the issue beyond doubt and a disbelieving New Zealand camp.

Rolton shared important partnerships of 75 for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper Julia Price and 63 for the seventh wicket with Bronwyn Calver, which gave the Australians a sniff of victory.

New Zealand was still in a position of control with Australia needing 49 runs off the last five overs.

However, a measure of complacency settled over the New Zealanders mid-innings and as the Australian threat grew, the Kiwis fell away in the fielding and bowling departments.

Earlier, after losing opener Shelly Fruin and Emily Drumm cheaply with just 26 runs on the board, captain Maia Lewis and Debbie Hockley joined forces for a record-breaking partnership and New Zealand's most enterprising batting of the series.

The pair added 138 for the third wicket, a New Zealand record against any country.

Lewis had her best knock of the series with a fine 69, which included two sixes and four fours.

Lewis was the aggressor as Hockley accumulated her 91 runs slowly in posting her 26th half century for New Zealand before being run out in the 48th over.

Coach Ann McKenna had a most unsatisfactory day.

``I am very disappointed with that result because we batted well, had the runs on the board, but didn't defend it well,'' she said.

``We should have won it, our fielding just wasn't good enough and that was the crux of it.''

On Saturday, Australia wrapped up the series with a comfortable six-wicket win at the Basin Reserve.

Chasing New Zealand's 186 all out in 49.2 overs, Australia cruised through to 187 for four in 48.2 overs to take an unbeatable 3-1 advantage.

``It was nice to wrap it up in the shortest way after losing the first one,'' Australian coach John Harmer said.

New Zealand did not have enough runs to play with, after winning the toss and electing to bat on a good batting track.

Apart from all-rounder Emily Drumm, who top-scored in the match with 88 not out, the New Zealanders had little to savour from their turn at bat. -- NZPA