Cameron Green scored an unbeaten 89 and shared a 158-run sixth-wicket partnership with Alex Carey as Australia recovered from a top-order collapse Tuesday to beat New Zealand by two wickets in the series-opening ODI.
Australia won the toss and restricted top-ranked New Zealand to 232-9, with allrounder Glenn Maxwell taking an ODI career-best 4-52 and paceman Josh Hazlewood snaring 3-31 for the hosts.
Devon Conway (46), skipper Kane Williamson (45), Tom Latham (43) and Michael Bracewell (26) all made promising starts for New Zealand before losing their wickets to the versatile Maxwell in conditions perfect for his slower off-spinners.
Trent Boult grabbed three early wickets with some vintage in-swing bowling for New Zealand, removing skipper Aaron Finch (5), Steve Smith (1) and Marnus Labuschagne (0), and Matt Henry dismissed David Warner (20) and Marcus Stoinis (5) to have Australia reeling at 44-5 after 12 overs.
But Carey (85) and Green combined to steady the innings and, with plenty of overs in hand and the pitch improving, set about gradually chasing down the required runs.