Chasing a target of 149, Stephen Fleming (70 not out) and Lou Vincent (73 not out) hunted it down in 27 overs. Vincent brought up the win with a huge six off Mitchell Johnson's bowling.

Their stand was a New Zealand opening record against Australia, surpassing the 125 by Bruce Edgar and Ken Rutherford at Christchurch in 1985-86.

It came on the back of a best New Zealand performance by paceman Shane Bond, whose 5-23 matched Richard Collinge's effort against India in 1975-76 in Christchurch as the second best by a New Zealander at home. Andre Adams holds the record with 5-22 v India in 2002-03.

While there was little doubt that Fleming's winning of the toss was a factor in the win, especially as the inexperienced Australian batting lineup had to cope with some sideways movement off the pitch, the attitude of the New Zealanders seemed a notch above that of the visitors.

There was a marked lift in the fielding of the home team after their disappointments in Australia with superior catching rewarding the bowlers. Bond had one of the sharpest catches off his own bowling when picking up Cameron White one-handed and low down in his follow-through.

The Australian bowling proved as ineffectual as the batting and no-one was immune from the treatment as Vincent in particular went on the charge. He survived a run-out chance on 18, and then on 44 a skied ball looked to spell his doom but Brad Hodge hesitated momentarily when running in, and in the breezy conditions, he was left short of the ball.

Glenn McGrath was mildly treated with 23 off his first six overs, Nathan Bracken had 0-30 off seven overs, Mitchell Johnson 0-49 off eight while Shane Watson went for 28 off four overs. Brad Hogg had 16 off his two overs.

Australian innings
Hayden c Fleming b Gillespie 14 (39)
Jaques c Vettori b Bond 1 (8)
Haddin b Bond 6 (5)
Hussey c Taylor b McMillan 42 (96)
Hodge c Fleming b Vettori 22 (49)
White c and b Bond 13 (18)
Watson c Bond b Vettori 8 (32)
Hogg b Bond 20 (23)
Johnson c Oram b Gillespie 8 (18)
Bracken b Bond 0 (4)
McGrath not out 5 (6)
Extras 9 (1b, 2lb, 5w, 1nb)
Total: 148 (50 overs)

FoW: 1-3, 2-16, 3-45, 4-86, 5-98, 6-108, 7-120, 8-133, 9-133, 10-148

Bowling
Tuffey 8-0-29-0 (1w)
Bond 9.3-2-23-5 (2w, 1nb)
Oram 10-0-21-0
Gillespie 9-0-27-2
Vettori 9-1-26-2
Styris 2-0-15-0 (1w)
McMillan 2-0-3-1

New Zealand innings
Vincent not out 73 (87)
Fleming not out 70 (76)
Extras 6 (3lb, 2w, 1nb)
Total: 149 (without loss; 27 overs)

Bowling
McGrath 6-1-23-0 (1nb)
Bracken 7-1-30-0
Johnson 8-0-49-0 (1w)
Watson 4-0-28-0
Hogg 2-0-16-0 (1w)

Sportal