Australia has beaten New Zealand by six wickets in the second one-dayer of their three match series at Westpac Stadium in Wellington tonight.
An unbeaten partnership between Mitchell Marsh and John Hastings saw Australia fight back from 197 for six to reach their target of 282. Marsh scored 69, while Hastings managed a new high score of 48 to help get Australia over the line.
It did not always look such a tall order though. After New Zealand chose to bat first and managed 281 for nine, Australia came out all guns blazing in their chase and seemed to be cruising. Recalled in-form batsman Usman Khawaja and David Warner proved destructive in getting Australia through to 122, before Khawaja fell to Mitchell Santner for 50 in the 17th over.
From there the Black Caps fought back. Two Matt Henry wickets saw Steve Smith and George Bailey dismissed in consecutive balls, while Glenn Maxwell followed three overs later, after being being bowled by Trent Boult.
New Zealand had fought their way back into the game at 144 for four and a bowling attack that was looking dangerous. Mitchell Marsh joined David Warner and put on 47 for the fifth wicket, before Warner was dismissed lbw by Santner after a successful New Zealand review.
When Adam Milne jumped to take a stunning catch on the boundary to dismiss Matthew Wade two overs later, New Zealand were in the box seat at 197 for six.
But Marsh and Hastings were outstanding in getting Australia home.
Mitchell Santner was New Zealand's outstanding bowler, claiming three for 47, with his wickets being key ones. Matt Henry's spell through the middle of the innings helped New Zealand back into the game and he finished with two for 57, while Trent Boult claimed the other wicket.
Earlier New Zealand were under pressure with the bat.
Brendon McCullum got the innings underway with a customary aggressive approach, managing 28 before being bowled in the fifth over.
Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill put on 53 for the second-wicket, before Guptill was caught on 31 and soon followed by Henry Nicholls for four.
Williamson routinely found holes in the field to reach New Zealand's high score of 60, but was soon dismissed softly by Adam Zampa, when he was caught in the covers.
Grant Elliott followed in a similar manner to the bowling of Zampa for 32 two overs later, leaving New Zealand in a spot of bother at 164 for five.
Luke Ronchi scored a run-a-ball 19 before being caught and when Corey Anderson was dismissed soon after, New Zealand found themselves in trouble at 205 for seven.
A late flurry from Mitchell Santner and Adam Milne helped them somewhat dig their way out of the hole, with Milne managing 36 and Santner scoring 45 not out.
The wickets were shared around the Australian bowlers, with Josh Hazlewood claiming three and Scott Boland, Mitchell Marsh and Zampa taking two each.
Marsh's two came at a crucial stage of the game, dismissing two in form batsmen in Guptill and Nicholls before either could mount a big total. He finished with two for 30 off his six overs.