David Hussey hit 46 from 36 deliveries to steer Australia to a comfortable six-wicket win in their Twenty20 match against New Zealand at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.
Chasing New Zealand's modest total of 118 all out, Australia scored 4-119 from 16 overs, getting home with four overs to spare.
Australia began with a partnership of 38 in three overs from David Warner (19) and Shane Watson (19).
Veteran quick Shane Bond claimed the wickets of Warner and Mitchell Johnson (1) in consecutive overs and star spinner Daniel Vettori trapped Watson lbw as Australia lost 3-1 in nine deliveries.
Skipper Michael Clarke (18 not out from 26 balls) took a back seat as Hussey slapped five boundaries from 36 deliveries. Cameron White (11 not out) hit a straight six to end the misery for the Black Caps before 21,364 fans.
Vettori bowled with great accuracy and took 1-13 from his four overs.
Australia's four-man pace attack overpowered the Black Caps, who were all out on the last ball of the 20th over after Vettori won the toss.
Shaun Tait (2-21) and Dirk Nannes (2-22) took two wickets each, combining superbly with Johnson who claimed 3-19 and Watson who finished with 2-23.
James Franklin top-scored with 43 from 42 balls, more than doubling his previous best of 20, before he succumbed to Tait's electrifying speed in the 19th over.
Tait had set the tone by knocking over Brendon McCullum (2) with the fourth delivery of the match as Brad Haddin took a brilliant diving catch.
After taking 1-3 in his opening two-over spell and reaching speeds of up to 155 km/h, Tait was replaced by Johnson who struck with his first ball, bowling Peter Ingram (2) at 2-13.
Johnson took the key wicket of Ross Taylor lbw for nine in controversial fashion as the ball was clearly missing off-stump.
Martin Guptill (30) was Johnson's third victim at 4-54 but Franklin and Gareth Hopkins (21) smashed 50 from 5.1 overs for the fifth wicket.
Daniel Christian (0-14 from one over), Watson and Tait conceded a combined 46 runs from four overs.
Watson, who had been having plenty to say to the Kiwi pair, ended the partnership with the last ball of the 16th over when Hopkins was caught behind.
With the crowd chanting "Watson's a wanker", Watson also took a superb catch at mid-wicket to dismiss all-rounder Jacob Oram (1).
The two-game series concludes in Christchurch on Sunday.
Share
