New Zealand has fallen 12 runs short of an unlikely win over Australia in the second Chappell Hadlee one day cricket series, thanks to a defiant 70 game high from skipper Dan Vettori.
The Black Caps were chasing a revised target of 266 from 45 overs in a rain-interrupted match in Auckland after Australia made 273 for seven.
The Black Caps started brightly but after Brendon McCullum was out for a quick 24 they slipped to 46 for four.
Vettori , who also took two wickets, would have sat out the game again with the recurring neck injury
thart kept him from playing in the two wicket win at Napier but vice-captain, Ross Taylor, was a late withdrawal with a leg injury.
The allrounder James Franklin also injured a leg and had to bat with a runner.
The third game in the best of five series in Hamilton on Tuesday.
