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Australia have reeled in NZ with their third-biggest T20 chase, with Tim David plundering a last-ball four to seal victory after great work from Mitch Marsh.
Tim David has produced a final-ball win for the ages, striking a boundary as Australia chased down New Zealand's 3-215 for a six-wicket win in Wellington.
Needing four to win, David dug out Tim Southee's attempted yorker to the mid-wicket boundary to win Australia the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy opener in dramatic fashion.
Captain Mitch Marsh was on hand to celebrate with David in the middle after his own superb knock, striking 72 off 44 to steer Australia within reach of the total.
With Australia needing 32 off the final nine balls, David then exploded, hitting 29 of what was needed, including a Michael Bevan-esque last-ball four.
"It was special to watch and really proud of him," Marsh said of David.
"(It takes) complete trust in your game and a real confidence to go out there and do that."
The total is Australia's third-best ever T20 chase, although they did set an unfortunate record in the process.
Marsh's side became the first nation to concede more than 200 in four consecutive T20 internationals, with New Zealand's total coming after three big innings by West Indies.
"We're all about breaking records so there's another one for us," Marsh joked.
The Black Caps can count themselves unlucky to fall to defeat but coughed up a number of chances in the field.
Within 10 balls, Marsh was dropped on the ropes twice - by Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillips both at the midwicket boundary - while Southee put down Josh Inglis at mid-off.
The third last ball showed the fine margins of T20 cricket.
Needing 12 to win, David pulled an effort flush onto the boundary rope for a six, when an inch lower would have been a four and might have made all the difference.
"That's cricket," Lockie Ferguson, the night's best bowler with 1-23 off four, said.
"Australia played very well tonight and got us on the last ball in a hell of a game of cricket.
"It sets up the weekend nicely. We'll look forward to going to Eden Park."
All of the Kiwi bats fired at Sky Stadium, with Rachin Ravindra tallying a career best T20 international score with six sixes among his 68 off 35 balls.
He was ably supported by fellow Wellingtonian Devon Conway (63 off 46) in a century partnership.
With destructive opener Finn Allen (32 off 16), the Kiwi trio punished Australia's spinners with Adam Zampa (0-42 off three) and Glenn Maxwell (0-32 off two) banished from the attack.
Instead, Test foursome Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Marsh combined for an all-pace finish to the innings, which failed to restrain power-hitters Glenn Phillips (19 off 10) and Mark Chapman (18 off 13).
Australia's chase ticked along without catching fire early, with the main point of interest the Kiwi crowd's obvious disdain for David Warner.
Warner plundered two sixes off Santner before he found Glenn Phillips at long-on, blowing kisses to a booing crowd as he departed for 32 off 20.
His departure allowed Glenn Maxwell (25 off 11) to provide some mid-innings pep.
Australia did the job without Steve Smith, with selectors leaving the 34-year-old out of the XI.
Doubts linger over whether the veteran will go to his fourth T20 World Cup, with this series being Australia's last hitout before the June tournament.
Marsh said the former skipper would feature at Eden Park, where the final two matches of the series will be played on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
