RESULT: BLACKCAPS 281-9 (Kane Williamson 60, Josh Hazlewood 3-61) lost to AUSTRALIA 283-6 off 46.3 overs (David Warner 98, Mitchell Marsh 69*) by four wickets.
Series alive.
Australia has edged out a hard-fought contest in the second ANZ ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee Series, beating the BLACKCAPS by four wickets in Wellington.
Scorecard
A calm knock of 69 not out from Mitchell Marsh saw the visitors to victory, chasing down the BLACKCAPS' first-innings effort of 281-9.
An opening wicket partnership of 122 between David Warner (98) and Usman Khawaja (50) provided the platform for Australia to build their pursuit.
Warner in particular was at his devastating best, striking four sixes and eight fours in his his 79-ball stay at the crease.
However, the tide turned when Mitchell Santner caught and bowled Khawaja and Matt Henry made a double strike shortly after.
Trent Boult then got Glenn Maxwell to play on, before Adam Milne took the catch of the summer to dismiss Matthew Wade.
Milne leaped high into the night sky and plucked the six-bound ball with his left hand at full stretch, reducing Australia to 197-6.
The match was evenly poised, but some clean striking from Marsh and impressive front foot play from John Hastings (48*) took the game away for the BLACKCAPS.
The pair never took their foot off the gas, racing to victory with 3.3 overs to spare and setting up a series decider.
The BLACKCAPS' innings was packed with starts, but lacked fluency due to wickets falling just as partnerships were beginning to flourish.
Skipper Brendon McCullum once again got his side off to handy start with 28 from 12 balls, before Josh Hazlewood pinged the top of his off stump in the fifth over.
Kane Williamson proved the anchor through to the 30th over, combining with Martin Guptill (31) and Grant Elliott (32) to get the BLACKCAPS through to 150-3.
Shortly after bringing up his 25th ODI half century, Williamson went after debutant Adam Zampa, but found the fielder at cover to depart for 60.
Cameos from the middle order edged the BLACKCAPS beyond 200, but at 205-7 the hosts were in danger of posting a target short of 250.
The tail would wag, Adam Milne (36) joining allrounder Mitchell Santner (45*) to put on 61 for the eighth wicket.
Santner would remain at the middle until the end, providing the finishing touches to the innings and giving the BLACKCAPS a defendable total.
Australia, though, showed they were up to the task, making sure the series will still be alive when they play in front of a sold out Seddon Park on Monday.
One match remains to decide the fate of the Chappell-Hadlee.
