The Silver Ferns turned the tables on Australia with a comprehensive 59-40 win in the second netball test in Wellington on Thursday night, levelling the series at 1-all.
The Silver Ferns rebounded from their five-goal loss in Adelaide on Sunday with a rousing team effort. The deciding test will be played in Auckland on Sunday.
Veterans Irene van Dyk, in her 180th test, and Temepara George, in her 75th, lifted their levels from disappointing first test outings with inspiring contributions in the second.
Canvassing all of her options ahead of October's Commonwealth Games, Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken plumped for recently returned long-limbed defender Anna Scarlett to start at goalkeep with a tried and true line-up of experience in front of her.
Australian coach Norma Plummer was conservative in her reshuffles as well, opting to add height into the shooting circle in the form of veteran Catherine Cox with captain Sharelle McMahon moving one position up the court to goal attack from her first test exploits.
Resisting the temptation to start with impressive first test defensive standout Susan Fuhrmann, Plummer's only other change was the presence of Kimberlee Green at wing attack ahead of Lauren Nourse.
The Silver Fens eked out a 16-11 lead at the first break after breaking Australia's defensive shackles to finish the quarter with a flourish. Plenty of movement on attack from midcourt dynamos Laura Langman and George created the openings for van Dyk under the hoop as she got the better of Laura Geitz and Mo'onia Gerrard with a forceful opening.
Cox and McMahon calmly slotted all shots that were on offer but were undone by a lack of possession as the home team's defensive trio created plenty of opportunities to disrupt Australia's ball.
The introduction of the towering Fuhrmann on the resumption failed to stem the flow as the Silver Ferns blasted into overdrive on the back of some sweet through court movement.
Scarlett completed her netballing renaissance after her three-year sojurn on the beach volleyball circuit with a compelling outing, in tandem with her captain Casey Williams and Joline Henry.
The trio excelled in shutting down Australia's ball flow, getting their hands to numerous tips and intercepts while Maria Tutaia came to the party with a series of trademark long range shots as the Silver Ferns headed into halftime with a healthy 31-19 lead.
With 15 goals from 17 attempts in the first half, van Dyk once again confirmed her ability to bounce back from a rare off-day. With her job done for the night, and Delhi in October on the Silver Ferns coaching minds, van Dyk headed to the bench. Her replacement Daneka Wipiiti slotted in under the post in a near-seamless transition.
The lofty 1.94m Southern Steel shooter potted goals from all points of the circle, the Silver Ferns maintaining their purposeful intent as their margin increased.
The introduction of Rebecca Bulley at goal defence for Gerrard, and Green for Nourse at wing attack did little to change Australia's fortunes as the visitors were bustled into an uncharacteristically high number of errors.
Dominating all areas of the court, it was the Silver Ferns who held all the cards as they went into the last break with a commanding 45-30 lead.
There were more changes to both teams in the run down the home straight with Grace Rasmussen making her debut against Australia at goal attack, in a game where nothing was going to disrupt a forceful and dominant outing by the Silver Ferns.