Australia’s hopes of a whitewash in their international women’s Twenty20 series against New Zealand have come to an end after a six-wicket loss in Wednesday’s fourth match in Sydney.

In a match reduced to 18-overs a side after a passing shower delayed the start of the game at ANZ Stadium, Australia limped to 7-92 in their innings with the White Ferns making 4-95 in reply to win with five balls remaining.

NZ skipper Suzie Bates top scored with an unbeaten 40 to guide her team home while Australian captain Jodie Fields was the hosts’ best with 37 not out.

Australia’s innings began disastrously as New Zealand bowler Kate Broadmore ripped through the Southern Stars’ top order.

Broadmore collected a remarkable 3-9 off her four overs as Australia slumped to be 5-30 at the halfway stage of their innings.

But a 43-run partnership between Fields and Lisa Sthalekar (23 off 24 balls) gave the hosts something to defend.

Fields finished the innings in some style scoring a six off the final over but her late heroics weren’t enough to push Australia’s score to a winning total.

“Just a disappointing batting performance,” Fields said.

“You can’t be 4-17 and come back with 93 and expect to win the game so it was a little bit disappointing today.”

New Zealand’s innings got off to a quick start thanks to some big hitting by Bates and Sara McGlashan (19 off 18) before Sarah Coyte (1-11) removed McGlashan with her first delivery of the match.

Sthalekar claimed two wickets with her spin bowling to finish with 2-19 off four overs but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Kiwis claiming the win.

Australia now hold a 3-1 lead in the five-game series which wraps up in Melbourne at the MCG on Friday.

“We travel there tomorrow and have a training session,” Fields said.

“I know the batters will be keen to be positive in that and come out at the MCG on Friday fighting hard just like New Zealand have done today.”