Australia were undermined by some haphazard running between the wickets as New Zealand claimed a seven-run victory in the Women’s World Twenty20 opener.
The Black Caps were asked to post a total and recovered from the loss of early wickets to record 128 for eight.
That appeared well within Australia’s grasp as they required 51 from 41 balls with six wickets in hand, but their victory charge was to unravel.
A third-wicket stand of 46 between Frances Mackay and Katie Perkins helped New Zealand rebuild after captain Suzie Bates was trapped lbw by Jess Jonassen and Sara McGlashan fell to Sarah Coyte in similar fashion.
Mackay made 25 and Perkins top scored with 31 as a degree of order was restored to a batting line-up skittled by England in their final warm-up match.
Nicola Brown provided late order fireworks with three fours and a six in a 19-ball 29, while two run outs from the last three deliveries of the New Zealand innings took on something of a prophetic feel.
Australia suffered more severe early damage as they lurched to 14 for three, New Zealand seamer Holly Huddleston striking twice and claiming the vital scalp of opposition captain Meg Lanning.
Wicketkeeper-opener Alyssa Healy had made 41 of her team’s 59 by the time Bates dismissed her leg-before, but her alliance with Alex Blackwell appeared to restore Australian composure.
That was something which would be found collectively wanting by the time Blackwell followed Ellyse Perry in falling short of her ground.
Rene Farrell duly followed suit, leaving number 11 Holly Ferling to fall lbw to Mackay and complete Australia’s woes with three deliveries unused.