The Constellation Cup netball battle will go down to the wire after an inspired Silver Ferns outfit demolished the Diamonds 61-52 in game three in Hamilton.
After big Australian victories in Melbourne and Sydney the Kiwis delivered on home soil today to stretch the Diamonds' drought in New Zealand to nine straight, with their last win there coming back in 2021.
The world champion Diamonds will look to snap that in Christchurch in game four on Wednesday night to wrest the Cup back from the No.2-ranked Ferns.
But if New Zealand win that match to level the series at 2-2, the teams will contest a mini match dubbed Series Decider Time, which is two seven-minute halves, to claim the Cup.
After suffering heavy losses in the first two Tests, the announcement yesterday that their long-term coach Dame Noeline Taurua would be reinstated appeared to give the Silver Ferns a major boost.
Taurua has been stood down since September after player complaints about her communication style, but New Zealand Netball said she would again take the reins at the end of the year.
With skipper Karin Burger leading by example, the Kiwis led after every quarter with the margin stretching to 10 points, 49-39, heading into the final term.
Australia trailed 13-12 after a physical opening quarter with New Zealand overhauling a 5-1 lead.
Both teams went on big runs in the second stanza with the Ferns scoring the first five goals of the quarter to lead 23-16 before the Diamonds responded with their own six-goal stretch.
But the home side took at 29-28 lead into halftime after forcing the Australians into uncharacteristic errors.
They turned up the pressure another notch in the third quarter with Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich making a raft of changes as she attempted to stem the flow of goals.
That included replacing midcourt stars, captain Liz Watson and centre Kate Moloney, who had dominated the opening two matches.
They also temporarily lost goal-keeper Courtney Bruce, who limped off with an ankle injury, but was able to play out the match.
But with gun shooter Grace Nweke piling on 44 goals from 46 attempts and veteran keeper Kelly Jackson locking down Australia's goal circle, New Zealand couldn't be stopped.
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