Half centuries from David Hussey (79) and elder brother Michael (75 not out) fashioned Australia's six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the fourth ODI as the hosts recorded their second successive win to level the five-match series 2-2.
Chasing 245, Australia lost Michael Clarke (14) and Ricky Ponting (15) inside 15 overs but the Hussey brothers and Brad Haddin (43) made useful contributions with the bat as the hosts cruised to 247 for four in 48.2 overs.
Earlier, Ross Taylor's 71-ball 76 and Martin Guptill’s 70-ball 45 helped New Zealand post a modest 244 for eight after captain Daniel Vettori decided to bat first.
After Clarke and Ponting, who was rushed into the side for the crucial last three matches, departed without making much of an impact, the onus was on Haddin and David to keep Australia in the chase and they did their job with elan. Haddin added 43 runs with David before running himself out.
Scoreboard
New Zealand: McCullum b Clarke 33, Guptill c Bracken b Johnson 45, Fulton c Bracken b Hopes 5, Taylor c Haddin b Johnson 76, Elliott c D Hussey b Johnson 26, Cumming c Johnson b Hopes 0, Broom c Hopes b Hilfenhaus 11, Mills b Bracken 23 Vettori not out 6, Southee not out 7; Extras (LB-2, W-10) 12; Total (for 8 wkts) 244; Fow: 1-69 2-83 3-86 4-141 5-141 6-173 7-226 8-235; Bowling: Bracken 10-0-51-1; Hilfenhaus 10-0-56-1; Johnson 10-0-51-3; Hopes 10-1-37-2; Clarke 8-0-23-1; White 2-0-24-0
{{/usCountry}}New Zealand: McCullum b Clarke 33, Guptill c Bracken b Johnson 45, Fulton c Bracken b Hopes 5, Taylor c Haddin b Johnson 76, Elliott c D Hussey b Johnson 26, Cumming c Johnson b Hopes 0, Broom c Hopes b Hilfenhaus 11, Mills b Bracken 23 Vettori not out 6, Southee not out 7; Extras (LB-2, W-10) 12; Total (for 8 wkts) 244; Fow: 1-69 2-83 3-86 4-141 5-141 6-173 7-226 8-235; Bowling: Bracken 10-0-51-1; Hilfenhaus 10-0-56-1; Johnson 10-0-51-3; Hopes 10-1-37-2; Clarke 8-0-23-1; White 2-0-24-0
{{/usCountry}}Australia: Haddin run out 43, Clarke c Fulton b O’Brien 14, Ponting c Guptill b Southee 15, D Hussey b O’Brien 79, M Hussey not out 75, Ferguson not out 13; Extras (lb-1, w-6, nb-1) 8; Total (for 4 wkts) 247; FoW: 1-29, 2-57, 3-101, 4-216; Bowling: Mills 9.2-2-30-0, Southee 10-0-61-1, O’Brien 10-0-54-2, Vettori 10-0-54-0, Elliott 9-0-47-0.