Cricket: White Ferns crush Australia in Twenty20

Elyse Villani of Australia leaves the field after getting out to Holly Huddleston of New Zealand. Photo / Getty

Australia's batters crashed to the nation's lowest women's Twenty20 total in a humiliating loss to New Zealand.

Chasing 114 runs to win, the Australians were bowled out for 66 - handing a 2-1 series triumph to the Kiwis.

Australia's previous lowest women's T20 total was 73 all out against the New Zealanders in 2010.

Earlier, New Zealand's batters suffered a collapse of their own, losing four wickets in six balls in their total of 113-8.

Australian legspinner Amanda-Jane Wellington took 4-16 from four overs, including three wickets in an over - the first the prized scalp of Kiwi captain Suzie Bates who top-scored with 31 from 34 balls.

Wellington's fellow spinner Jess Jonassen was also a standout and conceded just three runs from her opening two overs. She finished with 0-15 from four overs while Kristen Beams took 2-21.

In response though, Australia's top order stumbled to 9-5 after 4.5 overs, cruelling any chance of victory.

Only two Australians made double-figure scores - Alex Blackwell (30no) and Alyssa Healy (12).

The top order collapse was rapid: after Beth Mooney was run out on the fourth ball, the hosts lost their next four wickets in 11 balls.

The initial five batters dismissed made just eight runs between them. And the entire innings lasted just 16 overs.

Holly Huddleston was New Zealand's best bowlers with figures of 2-9 from four overs, while Lea Tahuhu (2-13) and 16-year-old schoolgirl Amelia Kerr (2-16) also performed well.

- AAP and NZ Herald