The White Ferns were brought back down to earth yesterday, losing heavily to Australia in a one-day international at Mount Maunganui.
The women's team won the first of the three-game ODI series on Saturday by nine runs but lost by eight wickets yesterday.
Australia sent the home side in to bat. New Zealand scored 206 for nine wickets in 50 overs.
Suzie Bates held the top order together with an innings of 61, after Rachel Priest and Amy Satterwaite scored ducks.
Sophie Devine pitched in with 67 and Katey Martin scored 39.
The best of the bowlers for Australia was Jess Jonassen, with a five-wicket bag.
Australia lost two wickets reasonably early but Meg Lamming and Ellyse Perry came together for an unbeaten 147-run partnership.
Lamming ended up on 114 and Perry scored 64 as the Australians won with nine overs to spare.
The deciding game in the series will be played tomorrow, again at Mount Maunganui.
The teams will play a three-match twenty20 series in Wellington and New Plymouth as preparation for the women's world twenty20 championships in India next month.
