Like so many other matches between the two teams, the game went down to the wire, with the Diamonds holding strong in thrilling final term to take the game 47 – 46.

Diamonds` goal defence Julie Corletto was named Player of the Match.

Coach Norma Plummer said she was delighted with the resilience of her team, who held on to the narrowest of victories with the Silver Ferns throwing everything at them in the last quarter.

Shooter Susan Pratley, who had an outstanding 92% acuracry rate, put Australia up by one with 59 seconds to go and defender Julie Corletto sealed the win with a big defensive play.

Plummer switched her shooters around from the last Test, restoring skipper Sharelle McMahon to her customary position of goal attack and Pratley to goal shooter.

Down 4-2 early, Australia hit the front halfway through the opening quarter and scored the last three goals of the term to lead 14-10 at the first change.

McMahon`s was back in top form, her speed and timing a headache for the Ferns defence.

The visitors had a five goal advantage wiped out in the second quarter, but hit back to lead 25-22 at halftime.

New Zealand scored the first five goals of the third quarter to hit the front as it took Australia almost three and a half minutes to register their opening score of the period.

The Diamonds then scored five straight goals near the end of the third quarter to eke out a 39-34 advantage at the final change.

New Zealand wiped out the deficit inside the first four minutes of the final quarter and the teams went goal for goal down the stretch.

Australia now holds an unbeatable 3 -1 lead in the series with the final match to be held in Auckland on Wednesday 23 September.

See below for starting teams and quarter by quarter scores.

Starting teams:
New Zealand
GS: Irene Van Dyk
GA: Paula Griffin
WA: Temepara George
C: Laura Langman
WD: Joline Henry
GD: Casey Williams
GK: Katrina Grant

Australia
GS: Susan Pratley
GA: Sharelle McMahon
WA: Kimberlee Green
C: Natalie von Bertouch
WD: Renae Hallinan
GD: Julie Corletto
GK: Susan Fuhrmann

Quarter by quarter scores
New Zealand Australia
Q1: 10 14
Q2: 22 25
Q3: 34 39
Q4: 46 47

Shooting stats
Irene Van Dyk: 27/30 90%
Maria Tutaia: 12/16 75%
Paula Griffin 7/10 70%

Susan Pratley 35/38 92%
Sharelle McMahon12/15 80%