Crucial innings from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh have carried Australia to a four-wicket win over New Zealand in Wellington to level the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.
Opener Warner struck 98 off just 79 balls and Marsh an unbeaten 69 off 72 as the vastly-improved tourists chased down New Zealand's 281-9 with 21 balls to spare to clinch the second one-day international.
They were the sort of knocks missing when Australia were rolled by 159 runs in the opening match at Auckland and have set up a decider in Hamilton on Monday.
Allrounder Marsh was a calm figure over the closing stages, with the chase teetering at 197-6.
He put on an unbroken 86 for the seventh wicket with unlikely hero John Hastings (48 not out off 47) as they ultimately cruised to 283-6.
It capped fine all-round games for Marsh, who claimed two top-order wickets with the ball, and the miserly Hastings (0-42 off 10).
Marsh revealed his head was spinning as he strode to the crease, having just learned of a $NZ1.6 million contract made for his services by Indian Premier League side Pune. The IPL player auction in Bangalore ran concurrently with the game.
He said focusing on the job at hand became a priority.
"It was a great partnership with John, we were in a little bit of strife there," he said.
"The way we batted was extremely satisfying and hopefully that'll give us great momentum going into Monday."
Recalled opener Usman Khawaja (50 off 49) scored his maiden ODI half-century and put on 122 with Warner, who ended an ordinary ODI record against New Zealand. His five other knocks had produced 100 runs combined.
Khawaja's departure was the first of four dismissals in the space of six overs and Australia's hopes were fragmenting when Warner exited following a smart LBW review from the home side.
Umpire Billy Bowden was forced to reverse a decision from the bowling of Mitchell Santner, leaving Warner tantalisingly short of a sixth ODI ton.
Left-arm spinner Santner was the pick of the Black Caps attack, taking 3-47, with the most spectacular coming from Adam Milne's leaping left-handed boundary catch to remove Matthew Wade cheaply.
Santner also performed with the bat, crafting an unbeaten 45 off 39 balls as he shared a late partnership with Milne (36 off 27) to inject impetus into a stuttering innings.
Santner paid credit to Australia's composed batting which proved the difference in a fluctuating contest.
"I thought 280 was competitive, it was a pretty good wicket," he said.
"Fair play to Mitch and John, that was a serious partnership from them and got them across the line.
"We just tried to stick to the plans. We knew if we got one more, we'd have been right in it."
Captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and set the early pace with three sixes in his 28.
However, key batsmen Martin Guptill (31 off 45) and Kane Williamson (60 off 74) struggled for authority and the middle order failed to fire, Santner aside.
Inexperienced Australian bowlers Adam Zampa and Scott Boland were both introduced to good effect in place of injured pair James Faulkner and Kane Richardson.
Debut legspinner Zampa (2-57) claimed Williamson and Grant Elliott (32) in quick succession while Boland (2-61) removed the dangerous McCullum with his second ball.
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