Australia have thrashed New Zealand at Basin Reserve, winning by 141 runs in a dominant performance that cemented their tag as pre-tournament favourites.
Meg Lanning's side were pinned down early after being sent in to bat, scratching around for runs at 3-56.
From that point on though, Australia produced a near faultless performance, firing with bat and ball to claim three wins from as many World Cup outings in New Zealand.
Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath struck half-centuries, and Ash Gardner, fresh out of COVID-19 isolation, clobbered 48 runs off 18 balls as Australia dug in to reach an improbable 8-269.
The Aussie pace attack did the damage as the White Ferns finished all out for 128, their three most lethal bats gone within eight overs.
Perry bowled Sophie Devine through the gate for six, before Darcie Brown ripped the heart out of the Kiwi top-order with the wickets of Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates.
Beth Mooney produced a stunning dive in slips to remove Kerr, giving South Australian teenager Brown her first World Cup wicket.
The scorecard read "c Healy b McGrath" when Maddy Green poked at one shortly after, and Brown then trapped Frankie Mackay lbw to leave the Kiwis demoralised at 5-35.
Brown, who was dropped after a listless first-up effort against England, finished with 3-22 from a tearaway spell bowling with the wind.
The end was nigh for New Zealand, hastened by Amanda-Jade Wellington's (2-34) two wickets in two balls and Gardner's (2-15) late effort.
It might have been so different for the White Ferns, who have now lost 12 straight against Australia.
They were on top for much of the Aussie innings after winning the toss and bowling on a green wicket.
Openers Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy made a slow and steady start, navigating the first nine overs before a bowling change brought their undoing.
Healy pulled straight to deep midwicket for 15, Lanning was caught behind slashing at Hayley Jensen's wide delivery for 5, and Haynes was bowled by a Lea Tahuhu thunderbolt for 30.
Perry formed the spine of the Australian recovery, partnering with Mooney for a 57-run stand, and then McGrath in a vital century partnership.
The veteran all-rounder was dismissed on 68 when Maddy Green sprinted and dived for a superb grab on the ropes.
By then, Australia had salvaged its innings, and Gardner arrived in the 46th over to put the cherry on top.
The reigning Belinda Clark Award winner caught COVID-19 on the eve of the tournament and only left her mandatory isolation for a sole training session on Saturday.
She threw her bat at everything and was richly rewarded, helping Australia to a strong score.
Tahuhu finished as New Zealand's best with 3-53, despite Gardner plundering 16 off her last over, and now has the most wickets in the tournament.
Still, the White Ferns are now 2-2 and with a major net run rate dip, face the prospect of missing the semi-finals on home soil without an uptick.
They play world number two South Africa on Thursday in Hamilton and England on Sunday at Auckland's Eden Park.
Australia march on, and will have the chance to make it four out of four against West Indies back at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday.
AAP
