KEY POINTS:
The poor woman rolled out to sing the New Zealand national anthem might have been badly off tune last night but at least the Silver Ferns found some much-needed harmony.
In a dramatic match that went into a second period of extra time, the most important thing for
the Silver Ferns was that they regained some much-needed confidence ahead of November's world championships.
They proved they can match Australia and proved that their arch-rivals are a different proposition when put under some pressure.
Although Ruth Aitken's side trailed by as many as 10 goals midway through the third quarter, they recovered to go goal-for-goal in an exciting but often brutal finish.
Goal attack Jodi Te Huna then held her nerve to not only send the game into extra time but also prove the difference in the extra period.
The scores were locked up 65-65 after the extra 14 minutes but New Zealand pushed on to win by the two-point rule - although confusion reigned after some poor scorekeeping.
The win arrested a slide that had seen Australia register four wins from their last five games against the Silver Ferns before last night and now means the series will be decided in Adelaide on Tuesday night.
Australian coach Norma Plummer had said she would likely give game time to her bench but few expected she would start without captain Liz Ellis and Wednesday's player of the match Catherine Cox.
Plummer must have thought that if her side could win the second test without Ellis in particular, the psychological blow to the Silver Ferns' already edgy nerves could have been catastrophic.
It was a risky strategy, however, because it gave the Silver Ferns an opening to build some much-needed momentum and confidence.
In contrast, Aitken sent out what many consider her best seven, with Julie Seymour and Laura Langman starting at centre and wing defence respectively, while Te Huna was given the nod at goal attack.
After a slow start in the shooting circle, which saw 11 minutes before Te Huna put up her first shot of the night, there was better chemistry between the Rebels captain and Irene Van Dyk. The goal shoot is a lot more effective when she has a partner to take some of the shooting burden and the pair managed to shoot at a wholly acceptable 90 per cent.
The speed of the Australians was simply outstanding at times, although New Zealand's zone defence was more effective overall than in the 53-46 defeat in Auckland. The Silver Ferns were also more urgent and physical but they struggled once more to move the ball fluently up the court.
Unlike Wednesday night, they were still in the contest after the first quarter, trailing 13-10.
They still made plenty of mistakes but so did the Australians and Sharelle McMahon, starting at goal shoot in the absence of Cox, even missed a handful of relatively easy shots to prove she is human.
The Silver Ferns put together a good run to lead 18-14 but Australia benefitted from some sloppy New Zealand play to lead 27-20 at halftime.
If that wasn't bad enough, the sight of 112-cap veteran Ellis pulling on the goal defence bib was the last thing they would have wanted to see.
Aitken made a host of changes herself. Langman moved back into the centre circle, with Sheryl Scanlan slotting into wing defence and Leana de Bruin replacing Joline Henry at goal defence. It seemed to make a difference and they clawed their way back into the match before going on to claim a dramatic win.
