New Zealand 48 Australia 58
Australia moved into prime position to retain the Constellation Cup on Thursday night in Auckland, defeating New Zealand 58-48.
For the most, it was a more spirited performance by the Silver Ferns than in their 50-44 loss on Tuesday and they looked to play an up-tempo game and challenge Australia wherever the could. 
However, as is so often the case, the Diamonds had that little bit extra about them and once they had a small lead in the fourth quarter, they were able to play close to faultless netball to seal the win.
It was the 10th Constellation Cup win in a row for Australia, with their last defeat coming in the opening test of the 2013 series, in Invercargill, and this rivalry is becoming increasingly lopsided.
New Zealand must win the next two tests to take the series down to goal percentage, then goal difference to decide the winner, though it will take a couple of remarkable performances in Sydney on Sunday and Melbourne on Friday for calculators to be required.
Australia were able to get their noses in front in the first quarter, in part thanks to some nice passes from Kimberley Ravaillon that put goal shoot Caitlin Bassett into the perfect position to score.
However, the score was just 14-13 in the Diamonds' favour at the first break, the same as it was in Christchurch two days earlier.
The Silver Ferns got off to a flyer in the second quarter, scoring six of the first seven points as the inexperience in the Diamonds midcourt was exposed for the first time in this series.
Even Diamonds captain Laura Geitz was throwing careless passes as the Silver Ferns had their best period of the game, but there were mistakes just before half-time from New Zealand, leaving the score 27-27 as the players headed off court. Incredibly, neither Bassett or goal attack Natalie Medhurst missed once over the half.
For the second half, Leana de Bruin and Phoenix Karaka came on at goal defence and goal keep respectively for New Zealand, while Gabrielle Simpson came on at wing defence for Australia.
A rush off three goals in 90 seconds from Medhurst and Bassett towards the end of the third quarter gave Australia a 43-40 lead, and rarely do they surrender an advantage in the fourth quarter.
Jodi Brown had a crucial miss with nine minutes to go and when the Diamonds went down the other end to score, they extended their advantage to four points.
From there, the scoreline blew out with the Silver Ferns' game going to pieces.