Sophie Devine all but got her side home as New Zealand came up agonisingly short of their target in the women's Twenty20 cricket world championship final today.
Devine kept her team in the contest after a ruinous start as they set off in pursuit of Australia's moderate 106 for eight at Bridgetown, Barbados.
After collapsing to 36 for five inside 11 overs, the White Ferns were ultimately one good heave away from the title as they finished on 103 for six, with Devine stranded following a heady innings of 38 not out off 35 balls.
She and allrounder Nicola Browne, later named player of the tournament for her 11 wickets at an average of 8.00, resurrected the innings with a stand of 41 before Browne departed for 20 in the 18th over.
Devine pressed on, belting 10 runs off the last two balls of the 19th over to begin the last 14 shy of the target.
Fast bowler Ellyse Perry held her nerve, restricting Liz Perry to a single before forcing Devine to hit through and over the off side as the Wellingtonian collected four successive twos.
With the White Ferns requiring a six off the last ball, Ellyse Perry, named player of the match for her figures of three for 18, then produced a full, straight delivery which Devine could only hit back towards the bowler.
The New Zealanders, who lost the 50-over World Cup and Twenty20 championship finals to England last year, had earlier been in tatters as Ellyse Perry and the Australian slow bowlers suffocated their run chase.
Wickets tumbled regularly before Devine and Browne dragged their team back into the game, with Devine particularly thoughtful as she fought to break the shackles against spinners Shelley Nitschke and Lisa Sthalekar, who conceded just 29 runs between them in eight overs.
New Zealand captain Aimee Watkins said Devine showed how it was done on a slowing surface earlier used for the men's final, won by England over Australia.
"I was very pleased with how we bowled but obviously Australia bowled slightly better," Watkins said.
"They bowled hard into the wicket and we saw a few variations in bounce. They used that well to their advantage.
"But the loss of early wickets put us in a hole although the way Sophie Devine batted at the end was outstanding and it gave us a chance."
The New Zealanders performed outstandingly in the field after Australia won the toss and opted to bat first.
The powerful Australian batting lineup never fully recovered once Browne and Sian Ruck combined to knock the top off their innings, with Browne excellent in taking two for 11 off her full complement of four overs.
The other bowlers played their part, too, as the Australians were held in check at 51 for five in the 13th over before Leah Poulton topscored with 20 while Sarah Elliott ended on 19 not out and Lisa Sthalekar smacked 18 off 13 balls towards the end.
Seamer Devine ended with two for 21 while Ruck, Kate Broadmore and Lucy Doolan each picked up one wicket.
