David Warner feared his record-breaking knock was over before he'd even reached three figures.
Warner finished 244 not out on day one of the second trans-Tasman clash, setting a new record for most runs by a batsman on a day of Test cricket in Australia.
Warner survived a spirited lbw shout from Trent Boult shortly after lunch when he was on 78, but was filled with dread when Brendon McCullum decided to review the not-out verdict.
Sure enough, the tracker system showed the ball would have cannoned into the bails at the top of middle stump.
But with a touch under 50 per cent of the ball predicted to hit the wickets, the verdict was umpire's call.
"He was a little bit (nervous) ... he saw the replay and thought that looks bad," Usman Khawaja said.
"I said - trust me. WACA is always bouncing. Umpire's call.
"If the umpire gave him out and he referred it, it would have been out.
"It's a funny game like that."
McCullum couldn't see the funny side, having used the side's final review.
NZ's skipper shook his head in belief, and injured allrounder Jimmy Neesham was just as shocked.
"You're kidding. That has to be so, so close to 50 per cent of the ball," Neesham tweeted.
"So unlucky."
Former Australian Test paceman Brett Lee was also confused by the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) verdict.
"I'm not sure why that can't be given out," Lee said on the Nine Network.
"I always grew up playing cricket, knowing if it hits the stumps, it's out."
NZ had no one to blame but themselves when they blew a referral on a lbw shout against Joe Burns that replays showed had touched the bat first.
To add salt to the wound, NZ were unable to call on the DRS when Khawaja edged spinner Mark Craig behind.
Khawaja was on 38 at the time, but went on to score 121 and heap even more misery on the Kiwis.
Once a team has two failed referrals, they need to wait until the 81st over before they reset.
Former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy felt it was a tad unfair to go that long without being able to review anything else.
"I'd still like to see the shockers reversed, even if there's no reviews," Healy said during his Nine commentary.
"As an umpire, you'd always like to see the shockers reversed."
So far this series, no referral has been successful.
NZ were also made to pay dearly for wasting their two referrals in last week's 208-run loss at the Gabba.
McCullum raced to 80 in the Black Caps' second dig when he was on the wrong end of a shocker from umpire Nigel Llong.
There was no referral available to save the hard-hitting batsman, who was given out caught at slip despite not hitting the ball.
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