Devon Conway scored a brilliant unbeaten 99, as New New Zealand defeated Australia by 53 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series on Monday.
After being asked to bat by Australian skipper Aaron Finch, New Zealand lost openers Martin Guptill and Tim Siefert to Daniel Sams and Jhye Richardson cheaply.
In the 4th over, Sams provided another crucial breakthrough by dismissing skipper Kane Williamson for 12 to leave the hosts were reeling at 19/3.
The pair of Conway and Glenn Phillips then resurrected the innings with a valuable 74 run stand for the fourth wicket, before the latter was caught at cover by Mitchell Marsh off the bowling of Marcus Stoinis for a breezy 30.
The 29 year old left Conway then added 47 runs for the fifth wicket with James Neesham before the Wellington all-rounder, bought by Mumbai Indians in the recent IPL auction, fell to Jhye Richardson for a quickfire 15 ball 26.
Johannesburg-born Conway remained unbeaten on 99 to take New Zealand to a competitive 184/5 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
Sams and Jhye Richardson claimed 2 wickets apiece, while Stoinis had a solitary wicket to his name.
Chasing 185, the Black Caps new ball pair of Trent Boult and Tim Southee wrecked the Australian batting line up by snaring the wickets of captain Aaron Finch, debuant Josh Philippe, Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell early as the visitors slumped to 19/4.
Marsh and Stoinis attempted to resurrect the chase with a 37 run partnership before the latter was caught and bowled by Ish Sodhi.
Marsh after scoring a quickfire 45 was eventually caught by Santner at backward point off Kyle Jamieson, effectively ending any slim chances Australia might have had of winning the game.
Sodhi cleaned up the tail by bagging 4 wickets as the visitors were bundled out for 131 in 17.3 overs, giving the home side a comfortable 53 run win.
Black Caps v Australia 2021 Crowd at Hagley Oval, Christchurch: 9,093