Rain may have disrupted their Twenty20 streak but captain Meg Lanning has backed Ellyse Perry to help the Australian women's cricket team extend their record-breaking one-day run.
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Rain forced play to be abandoned in the trans-Tasman T20 series decider at Auckland on Thursday after just 2.5 overs were bowled.
The match was initially reduced to 13 overs a side after the toss was delayed by 90 minutes but was ultimately called off with Australia stranded on 1-14.
The 1-1 result marks the first time Australia have not won a women's T20 series since November 2017.
They still remain unbeaten in T20 series and tournaments since March 2018, a run that includes two World Cup triumphs.
The stage is now set for Australia to make history in the three-match ODI series in Tauranga starting on Sunday.
Australia are vying for their 22nd straight win - an outright ODI world record after equalling the mark set by Ricky Ponting's 2003 team last October.
And Lanning believes Perry will be the key despite the star allrounder's underwhelming international return.
In her first series back from a year-long hamstring injury, Perry had limited chances to impress after being relegated to batting at No.6 and being asked to bowl just one over in two games.
Perry may have notched T20 No.123 on Thursday - a world record for internationals played in the shortest format.
Yet her series tally of 25 runs and 1-8 with the ball against New Zealand has sparked speculation that her T20 days may be numbered.
But Lanning tipped 112-game ODI veteran Perry to bounce back in the 50-over format, predicting more chances with bat and ball.
"She is a world-class player and I hope to see the best of her in the ODI series," she said.
"People who can bat for longer periods of time and make those match-winning contributions are extremely important ... and Ellyse has shown over a long period of time that she can do that.
"She will play a bigger role for us ... with more overs to bowl as well."
Lanning was more coy about Australia claiming the outright record for consecutive ODI wins.
"We haven't spoken about it a lot," she said.
When pressed Lanning said: "Ricky Ponting is a great of world cricket and they had a pretty amazing team - it would be a great achievement for the group."
It remains to be seen if New Zealand captain Sophie Devine plays the ODI opener after missing her second straight T20 due to fatigue on Thursday.
Kiwi quick Jess Kerr (three wickets at 18) was named player of the T20 series.
Australian Associated Press
