The Blackcaps have opened their Twenty20 World Cup campaign in dominant fashion, thrashing hosts and reigning champions Australia by 89 runs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
An unbeaten 92 from Devon Conway, and three wickets apiece to Tim Southee (3/6) and Mitchell Santner (3/31) combined to leave Australia with no answers, as the Blackcaps gained revenge for the 2021 World Cup final defeat in the UAE.
The defeat margin was Australia's largest in terms of runs in a Twenty20 World Cup, and sends the Blackcaps to the top of Group 1 of the tournament's Super 12 stage - boasting an emphatic net run rate of 4.450.
Victory is also the Blackcaps' first in Australia - in any format - since the 2011 test win in Hobart.
After losing the toss and asking the Blackcaps to bat first, Australian captain Aaron Finch was left regretting his decision, as the opening pair got New Zealand off to a flier.
Led by Finn Allen (42), the openers took just 23 balls to raise their 50-run stand. Named ahead of Martin Guptill, Allen justified his selection by hitting five fours and three sixes in his knock.
But even after the 23-year-old was bowled by Josh Hazlewood, opening partner Conway batted on and found a valuable ally in captain Kane Williamson.
The pair combined for 69 runs in 53 balls to take the score past 100, before Williamson departed for 23, out lbw trying to reverse sweep Adam Zampa.
Conway passed his half-century in 36 balls, and also brought up 1000 T20I runs in the process.
Glenn Phillips came and went for 12, before Conway and Jimmy Neesham (24 not out) finished the innings in style.
And when Neesham sent the final ball of the innings over the ropes for six, the Blackcaps passed 200 and set Australia a target of more than 10 an over for victory.
In response, Southee and Santner struck to remove Australia's top three inside the powerplay, and have the hosts on the back foot.
Southee landed the big fish with his first ball of the night, as David Warner was bowled for five when the ball rebounded back onto the stumps, starting Australia's woes.
Finch (13) looked to take the attack to Santner, but could only find the hands of Williamson at mid-off, before Southee had the dangerous Mitchell Marsh for 16, hitting a slower ball out to Neesham at wide long-on.
Marcus Stoinis endured a painful innings of seven from 14 balls, and was put out of his misery when Phillips went horizontal at deep extra cover to take the catch off Santner that left Australia 50/4.
Tim David was the only change to the Australian side that beat the Blackcaps in the World Cup final in Dubai last year, but couldn't ensure a repeat result when he too holed out to Neesham to give Santner his third.
Lockie Ferguson's reintroduction in the 13th over brought about the end of Matthew Wade, who edged behind to Conway.
Glenn Maxwell played Australia's lone hand, albeit for just 28, including a series of reverse sweeps and switch hits. But he attempted one too many against Ish Sodhi, and lost his leg stump to all but end Australia's chances.
Trent Boult clean bowled both Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa in the 17th over, to leave the hosts 111/9, before Southee returned to take the final wicket when Pat Cummins' top edged pull shot was taken by Conway.
Southee's wickets also means he becomes the all-time leading wicket taker in T20 Internationals, with 125 strikes having him ahead of Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan's 122.
The Blackcaps are next in action in their second group match, against Afghanistan, played on Wednesday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
New Zealand 200/3 (Conway 92 not out, Allen 42; Hazlewood 2/41) Australia 111 all out (Maxwell 28; Southee 3/6, Santner 3/31)
New Zealand win by 89 runs
Join us at 9pm Wednesday for live updates of the Blackcaps v Afghanistan World Cup pool clash
