Australia has squared its best-of-three Oceania World Cup qualifying series against New Zealand with a convincing 4-0 victory at Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre.

Beaten 1-0 by the Black Sticks for the first time in five years in Sunday's series opener in Auckland, the Hockeyroos hammered four second-half goals in a dominant game two display.

Madonna Blyth, Karen Smith, Emily Halliday and Angie Skirving all scored as the Hockeyroos ensured the series will go to a decider here on Saturday.

The series winner automatically qualifies for the 2006 World Cup in Spain while the loser will have to negotiate a 12-nation qualifying tournament in Italy next April from which the top five countries will advance.

After dominating the first half, the Hockeyroos finally went ahead 11 minutes after the break when Blyth scored from a penetrating Nicky Hudson sideline pass.

It was 2-0 just four minutes later when Smith finished off some tidy work from Nicole Arrold.

The score went to 3-0 when Halliday converted the Hockeyroos' first penalty corner in nine attempts in the 58th minute.

Skirving completed the rout in the 67th minute from Australia's 10th penalty corner.

Australia has not lost a women's hockey series to New Zealand since 1978.

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