Lynn McConnell at Eden Park
Mitchell Johnson might have been the bad boy of Napier in the first of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy matches but he put that behind him to guide Australia to a 12-run (D/L) win over New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.
Johnson's effort in taking 4-51 ensured that Australia, still not playing as well as it wished, blunted New Zealand's momentum and levelled the series with three to play.
Skipper Daniel Vettori was last man dismissed for 70 in a typically big-hearted response. He scored only his fourth ODI half-century, the milestone coming off 34 balls as New Zealand ensured Australia was forced to battle all the way.
Australia posted 273-7 after choosing to bat first and while New Zealand might have been satisfied with a target of 274, it failed to make any impact at the start of its innings, slumping to 46-4 in the 11th over.
After a brief shower early in its innings, New Zealand's target was reduced to 266 off 45 overs.
It missed its most reliable middle-order batsman Ross Taylor who suffered a hamstring strain in the opening match of the series in Napier and was unable to play in Auckland. Coupled with the absence of Jacob Oram it left the New Zealanders vulnerable and Australia, led by Johnson and Ryan Harris, made the most of it.
Harris had the final say by bowling Vettori to end the game and he ended with 3-34 from 8.2 overs.
Johnson was a natural target for crowd attention but produced a fine bowling performance while Harris was all hustle and bustle to maintain pressure. Shane Watson had a mixed day, coming in for some attention from Vettori and Hopkins to end with 2-32 from his five overs. And Doug Bollinger went for 63 runs from his eight overs.
New Zealand made a bold start with Brendon McCullum lashing out at Ryan and Doug Bollinger to race to 24 from 15 balls. But the advent of Mitchell Johnson resulted in McCullum edging behind to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, but his was the only aggression New Zealand was able to unleash.
Martin Guptill again struggled to come to grips with the bowling and hit only 18 before he fell, caught behind from Shane Watson's bowling.
Earlier Peter Ingram was the first of Harris's victims trapped leg before wicket for 14 from 24 balls.
Neil Broom followed lbw from the next ball and with the lame James Franklin caught behind off his gloves from Johnson for two, New Zealand faced a daunting task to get anywhere near its target.
Scott Styris made it to 46 from 58 balls but then offered a soft shot to off-spinner Nathan Hauritz to be caught at mid-on by Ricky Ponting.
Gareth Hopkins hit 35 from 39 but at 176-7 it seemed all over for New Zealand.
Earlier, New Zealand exposed Australia's inability to manage one dominating innings.
Despite 56 to Michael Hussey, 54 to Cameron White, 53 to Brad Haddin and 47 to Shane Watson, the one big score the side had talked about wanting as a foundation was missing, as the New Zealanders achieved double breakthroughs among the top-order.
It did appear that White and Hussey had come up trumps with a vital fifth-wicket partnership. But after posting 101 runs, accumulated superbly between the 24th and 40thovers, White launched an assault on James Franklin.
He clubbed two big sixes to cow