Australia took the chance to give its top order an airing in New Zealand conditions when swamping a hapless Otago women's team in the first build-up game for the CricInfo Women's World Cup on Sunday.

Played at Carisbrook, the game resulted in the highest one-day score ever achieved on that ground. Australia posted 331-4, with two of its batsmen Belinda Clark (65) and Karen Rolton (72 off 42 balls) retiring.

Otago, a side which is rebuilding its presence in women's cricket after many years off the scene, reached 75-6 in its 50 overs.

In the second game scheduled for Monday, the loss of several Otago players to examination commitments means that a composite side will be selected with Australian players not in the playing XI being included with those available Otago players and some local youths.

Ireland, playing in Hamilton against Northern Districts women, had a six-wicket win after confining the home team to 136-8 in its 50 overs.

In Christchurch, at Hagley Oval, South Africa solidified its intentions of a strong showing in the tournament by beating a Canterbury XI by six wickets.

Canterbury has been a leading force in New Zealand cricket for more than a decade but was playing without its international players.

India had an easy win over Wellington at Petone. Wellington could manage only 88-9 from 50 overs and then took the win for the loss of only one wicket.

The Netherlands were not so lucky in Napier where they were beaten by Central Districts women by 63 runs.

Sri Lanka also struggled when losing comprehensively by 128 runs to Auckland, the defending national champion which was also playing without its internationals.

Scores were:

At Dunedin: Australia 331-4 (B Clark 65, K Rolton 72, L Keightley 48, J Broadbent 45, C Bambury 42no) beat Otago 75-6 (S Tsukigawa 21, K Spence 17no; C Mason 3-8, Rolton 1-12, J Hayes 1-13, A Fahey 1-16) by 256 runs.

At Hamilton: Northern Districts 136-8 (N Pratt 41, S Sandilands 26; B McDonald 3-24, M Grealey 3-12) lost to Ireland 140-4 (Grealey 60no, C O'Leary 23) by six wickets.

At Napier: Central Districts 185-7 (S Duffil 54, N Thessman 42, S McGlashan 39; S Kottman 4-39, T de Boer 2-24) beat the Netherlands 122-8 (T van der Gun 33no; D Trow 2-16, M Murray 2-19, E Perry 2-28) by 63 runs.

At Petone: Wellington 88-9 (F Stickney 25; N David 5-13) lost to India 90-1.

At Christchurch: Canterbury XI 179 (A Marsh 51; K Price 4-23, C Eksteen 3-31, S van Zyl 2-33) lost to South Africa 180-4 (A Hodgkinson 61, S Viljoen 38) by six wickets.

At Auckland: Auckland 197 (A Soma 77no, I Cronin-Knight 32, L Harford 24; C Sugathadasa 2-47; H Fernando 2-22) beat Sri Lanka 69 (H Fernando 19; M Tunupopo 4-15) by 128 runs.

© CricInfo