Mitch Marsh showed incredible temperament and technique on Saturday, soaking up plenty of pressure to level the trans-Tasman one-day series in Wellington.
Most of it came courtesy of Australia's sputtering chase that followed New Zealand's total of 9-281.
But there was also the distraction of an Indian Premier League auction, with Marsh finding out he'd been bought for $1 million shortly before walking out to bat after a collapse of 4-22.
The 24-year-old guided his side from 4-114 to 6-283, finishing 69 not out to secure a four-wicket win with 21 deliveries remaining.
Marsh revealed he had to mentally block out the IPL bonanza thanks to an unwanted spoiler.
"I was waiting to bat and some bloke yelled out to me in the crowd `well done you've just gone for a million dollars'," the allrounder said.
"I didn't really believe him.
"(Brother Shaun Marsh) came and sat next to me with a little grin and gave me a little nudge so then I found out.
"I was really happy I was able to block that out and really focus on the game ... your bank balance doesn't give you runs."
Australia were outclassed in every facet of the game in a 159-run loss in Auckland last Wednesday.
David Warner led the visitors' response in game two with a knock of 98, while Marsh ensured Monday's series finale in Hamilton will be a decider.
Marsh served as 'The Finisher' in the absence of injured allrounder James Faulkner, having also snared two wickets and a catch on a productive day.
The visitors batted, bowled and fielded a lot better at Westpac Stadium compared to Eden Park, giving them hope of making it eight straight ODI series wins.
Usman Khawaja's recall was a success, his 122-run opening partnership with Warner was dynamic and came off just 97 balls.
But there were still plenty of concerning moments for skipper Steve Smith, who was out for two and dropped a tough catch that cost 28 runs.
At the top of that list was another chaotic collapse.
The run-rate stalled and victory looked anything but assured as Khawaja, Smith, George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell fell in 6.1 overs.
"Eden Park," Marsh said of his thoughts after Maxwell chopped on.
"We were in a bit of strife.
"Any time when you bat in an international game you're under pressure.
"You've got to knuckle down."
The visitors steadied before another dramatic slump.
Warner was denied his first ODI century on foreign soil by the Decision Review System, with the Blackcaps successfully referring a Mitchell Santner lbw shout.
Matthew Wade was out two overs later, victim to a leaping one-handed catch in the deep from Adam Milne that left all 22,107 fans at the ground astonished.
The 36th over was the turning point, with 18 runs coming from it including three Marsh boundaries.
The victory equation was 62 runs off 84 deliveries at that point, allowing Marsh and John Hastings to power home in an unbeaten 86-run stand.
"They played well and deserves to win. It was a good partnership," Santner said.
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