New Zealand showed that they were ready to up the ante as they head into the final stages of the CricInfo Women's World Cup at Lincoln University today.

New Zealand polished off the South African batting in the 36th over to claim a 158-run win.

South Africa were on the receiving end of a highly encouraging batting effort from the New Zealanders, who relished the opportunity provided them when they were asked to bat first at Lincoln Green.

The batting effort in reaching 265/5, with a re-arranged batting line-up, was a fillip after the performance against India on Saturday.

New Zealand showed their increase in scoring tempo then was no accident but it was tempered by the fact that consistency is what is needed in the batting if the side is to seriously trouble Australia for the world championship.

"We went up a gear today," New Zealand captain Emily Drumm said afterwards.

"We are getting used to playing at this sort of pace and it is nice that we can lift ourselves against the sides who would like to spoil the party for us," she said.

The benefits for New Zealand on this occasion were:

A solid opening stand of 63 with Rebecca Rolls scoring 44 before running herself out.

Opener Anna O'Leary showing the benefits of better placement in her 32.

Drumm posting her second One-Day International century with 108 not out off 104 balls.

A rapid-fire 34-run fifth-wicket stand between Paula Flannery and Drumm off 27 balls.

And another demonstration of the punch Haidee Tiffen can give to an innings as she scored 35 not out from 24 balls while adding 82 runs from 50 balls with Drumm.

Drumm was delighted with the way the side has picked up its effort.

"Each game we have played has been so different for the way we have scored our runs.

"Today showed the value of getting a good start and I'm glad we stuck with Rebecca [Rolls] as an opener. When you get runs like that at the top of the order it takes the pressure off other batsmen coming in to up the run rate," she said.

It was impressive the way a player like Paula Flannery came in and scored only 15 runs, she said, because she kept the momentum of the innings going when it could just as easily have fallen over.

"She hit the ball beautifully and was the catalyst to a big partnership between Haidee [Tiffen] and me."

New Zealand backed up its batting effort in the field with some fine fielding.

Sunette Viljoen looked to have pulled off the catch of the match when sprinting forward and diving to hold a low drive at deep extra cover to dismiss Debbie Hockley during the New Zealand innings.

But Helen Watson offered some competition with her soccer goal-keeper-like leap to her side to grab a half chance from Yulande van der Merwe.

No sooner had the field settled down to receive an over from Watson than she took a wicket with the first ball of her second spell. Another followed three balls later and the end came two overs later when Watson picked up her third wicket for 14 runs.

"Our fielding was reasonably good today. It is nice that we are getting the run outs and taking the half chances," Drumm said.

"You expect yourself to put your body on the line and we have a good understanding of what is expected of us now," she said.

New Zealand's next game is against England at BIL Oval on Thursday. South Africa plays Australia on Wednesday.

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