Mitchell Marsh celebrate his century against the Black Caps. Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
Australia skipper Mitch Marsh has scored a T20 ton to guide his side past another mediocre Black Caps batting performance and to victory in the third Chappell-Hadlee encounter at Bay Oval.
Chasing just 157 for the win, the Aussies achieved their target with three wickets in hand and two overs early, with Marsh unbeaten on 103 off 52 balls at the end.
While the captain was in command from the start, he struggled to find any support at the other end, with only tailenders Mitchell Owen (14) and Sean Abbott (13) reaching double figures, as the Kiwis almost achieved the unthinkable.
Allrounder Jimmy Neesham brought them back into the contest with the wickets of wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Marcus Stoinis in successive deliveries - his last ball of the ninth over and his first ball of the 11th, finishing with 4/26 off his four overs.
Mark Chapman starred in the field, with two spectacular catches to dispatch Matt Short and Carey.
Earlier, the Black Caps struggled to find any momentum in another stuttering performance with the bat.
Opener Devon Conway's forgettable series continued with a two-ball duck to go with his solitary run in the opener, as Josh Hazlewood claimed the first of his two wickets, followed shortly after by Tim Robinson, who knicked behind for 13.
Opener Tim Seifert blasted a 35-ball 48, as both Daryl Mitchell and Chapman fell cheaply, bringing together skipper Michael Bracewell and Neesham, who combined for the highest partnership of the innings with 39.
When they both fell in the mid 20s, the writing was on the wall for the Black Caps, the tail unable to wag, as they meandered towards the underwhelming total with one wicket in hand.
Abbott inflicted further damage at the death to finish with figures of 3/25.
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