The Black Caps have beaten Australia by six runs in a thrilling opening one-dayer of the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia at Eden Park.
The Black Caps' Mitchell Santner celebrates with Tom Latham. First ODI vs Australia, Auckland, 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Batting first after losing the toss the Black Caps set the tourists 287 to win, with Neil Broom top scoring with 73 runs.
Opener Martin Guptill scored 61 with Jimmy Neesham the next best contributor with 48.
Tail-ender Trent Boult scored 16 runs off seven deliveries at the end of the innings to help lift the Black Caps to 286 for 9.
The New Zealand bowlers then ripped through the Australian top order, reducing them at one point to five wickets down for just 54 runs.
The tourists though recovered to put up quite a fight with Marcus Stoinis scoring an unbeaten century, finishing on 146 not out as Australia nearly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Stoinis' innings was a record score by an Australian number seven batsman in one-dayers.
However it wasn't enough as Stoinis ran out of partners - the Black Caps running out Josh Hazlewood to survive an all-mighty scare and seal the six run win.
The Black Caps would have had themselves to blame for the loss, with some poor bowling and fielding at the crucial end of the match.
Stoinis was dropped by the Black Caps captain Kane Williamson.
Williamson also missed an earlier run-out that would have won them the match.
Spinner Mitchell Santner took three wickets for the Black Caps while pacemen Boult and Lockie Ferguson took two wickets each.
New Zealand lead the three-match series 1-0 heading into the second game in Napier on Thursday.
-RNZ
