Aussie bowlers stitch up Kiwis

Australia have tuned up for the Commonwealth Games lawn bowls in style after clean sweeping New Zealand in the Test series in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Ranked No.1 and No.2 in the world respectively, Australia flexed their muscles against the Kiwis, winning the men's and women's competitions, but only after surviving a countback in the latter.

Having lost two of the three trophies on offer in Brisbane last year, Australia gained immediate redemption as their road to Delhi picked up momentum with a third clean sweep in four years against New Zealand.

"It's a great effort to win all three trophies against the Kiwis," Australian coach Rex Johnston said.

"It was an important stepping stone for us. They were the benchmark after (the recent eight-nation tournament in) Delhi, so I'm really proud of our players."

After a forgettable opening day of the competition on Wednesday, Leif Selby hit back for Australia as he led from the front with a hat-trick of wins against Ali Forsyth in the singles, while Kelsey Cottrell was just as impressive for the women.

For a successive day, Cottrell, 19, of Sydney, had the better of the sport's top-ranked female player, Val Smith, snaffling two of Thursday's three Tests to finish with a 5-1 record.

Australia's new-look pairs combinations of Lynsey Armitage and Natasha van Eldik and Mark Berghofer and Aron Sherriff then barely missed a beat to seal the win.