Australia's Southern Stars secured victory in the Rosebowl series with an 18-run win at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln today.

A total of 218/5, which featured a typically punchy 90 from Karen Rolton was too much even for an on-song Haidee Tiffen, who returned to form with a fine 69.

Tiffen came in at 55/3 in the 19th over and stayed until the 48th before being bowled for 69 swiping at Therese McGregor when 36 were required off 16 deliveries.

"Even when we needed 58 off 40 balls I said (to Rachel Pullar) 'come on Rach, we can do this'. But it was gradually put out of our grasp," Tiffen said.

"We talked about not getting complacent and got off to a great start, but just the one bad ball an over cost us," summed up Tiffen.

After 10 overs, the Australians were 11/1, but had accelerated, thanks to Rolton and Belinda Clark (44) to 67/1 after 20 overs and consolidated to 115/1 after 30.

Michelle Goszko then hit 48 off 51 deliveries, being stumped by Rebecca Rolls off Tiffen (two for 49) off the last ball of the innings. The New Zealand spinners struggled with the strong nor'wester blowing across Canterbury and failed to flight the ball as well as yesterday, when New Zealand won its first game of the series. This left Australia with a very defendable total despite Lincoln's perfect batting wicket.

"They kept pushing and it was going through the field and the misfields created momentum for their team and sent our heads down," said Tiffen.

New Zealand was keen to bat first due to the absence with a calf strain of leading Australian bowler Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who is 34 tomorrow.

The White Fern reply kept home hopes alive when Emily Drumm (22) was batting, but her favoured scoring area, behind the wicket, proved her undoing when the New Zealand captain glided a delivery from Julie Hayes to wicket-keeper Julia Price.

Tiffen and Kathryn Ramel (20) added 51 for the fifth wicket to put their side within 90 of a second successive win.

However, Clea Smith, drafted into the Australia squad for the trip to Christchurch, struck twice in eight deliveries, forcing Ramel and yesterday's big hitter Aimee Mason to hole out.

Earlier, Fitzpatrick's replacement, Emma Twining, bowled her opening six overs for ten runs.

"There was a bit of pressure on her," said Australia's match-winner Rolton. "But we couldn't have asked for anything more from her.

"We've won quite a few games against New Zealand, but as soon as we don't play well that's when they beat us," Rolton continued.

Yesterday and in the CricInfo Women's World Cup final, were days when New Zealand came out on top.

"There's nothing we can do about the World Cup now," said Rolton. "We've had quite a few changes since the World Cup with a few girls getting more experience. The more they play the better," Rolton told CricInfo.

The teams meet again on Wednesday in a match that Tiffen for one would love to win.

"The series has gone but this is a different team from the World Cup. It's all or nothing, we've nothing to lose and we hope to have a good game to finish up."

© CricInfo