Lanning confident despite Stars stutter

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' search for a complete batting performance will continue after Sunday's defeat to New Zealand, but skipper Meg Lanning is confident her team will produce the goods in time for next month's World T20 in India.

The Southern Stars were restricted to 7-113 by the White Ferns in their first Twenty20 International clash in Wellington, with New Zealand off-spinner Leigh Kasperek wreaking havoc with a career-best 4-7.

Lanning, coming off back-to-back tons in the ODI series, became Beth Mooney's third opening partner in four T20 matches this summer and the move seemed a positive one as she made an attacking start, moving to 30 from 28 balls before she was stumped off the bowling of Kasperek.

Quick single: NZ topple Southern Stars in first T20

Ellyse Perry also showed aggression, striking two boundaries and one six in her 17, but a collapse of 5-17 consigned the Southern Stars to a below-par total.

"We just didn't get enough runs (and) that period in the middle where we lost three quick wickets, it stalled the momentum and cost us getting to 140," Lanning said after the match.

"It's disappointing after we built some good momentum in the one-day series."

Both Lanning and Southern Stars coach Matthew Mott have previously stated they want totals of 140-plus to be the norm.

Australia have batted first in each of their last seven ODIs – sent in every time by their opponents – for an average total of 122.

However they produced scores of 5-140 and 5-136 against India last month, while their two ODI wins over New Zealand last week featured excellent run chases led by Lanning's twin centuries.

The Australia skipper believes her team isn't far away from achieving consistent performances with the bat, but acknowledges with just two T20s against New Zealand remaining before the team head to India for the World T20, they don’t have long.

"It's there with the bat. We just haven't been quite able to put it together in one game. We're going to have to work on it quickly, we don't have long, " Lanning added.

"But the good thing is that it's there, we just need to see it a little more often."

Quick single: Mott wants stability from Southern Stars

Lanning was also able to draw consolation from the efforts of her bowling attack, particularly Megan Schutt (2-11) and Lauren Cheatle (2-36) whose key wickets meant the tourists still had a glimmer of hope as late as the 17th over.

"I thought our bowlers did a reasonable job at defending that, but we just didn't do well enough with the bat," Lanning said.

"Cheatle is in the team to take wickets and I thought that was really good and Schutt did a great job when she came on when the batters were in and going and she was able to tie them back a bit.

"There were some good things today but just not enough of them consistently and that's what we need to get right."

The Southern Stars will have just one day to re-assess before their second T20 at the same venue on Tuesday.

"It wasn't all bad today, there was some good stuff in there, but you’ve got to look at what you can learn from the game and take into the next one, so we'll do that, " Lanning said.

"But we've got to move on from result because we've got a game quickly in a couple of days so we need to come out ready for that."