Mitchell Marsh has scored a half-century as Australia crushed New Zealand by six wickets in the series-opening men's T20I.
Australia's victory came despite a century from Black Caps batter Tim Robinson at Tauranga's Bay Oval on Wednesday evening.
Marsh blasted five sixes and nine fours in his 43-ball 85 as the visitors reeled in New Zealand's 6-181 with 21 balls to spare in blustery conditions.
"It's a nice entry, obviously really important in a three-match series to start off with a win," Marsh said.
"Tonight was a lot of fun …we do have a lot of power in our batting line-up [and] hopefully it can continue."
[Scorecard]In the earliest start to an international summer in New Zealand, the Black Caps were missing regular captain Mitchell Santner, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra and a slew of injured bowlers.
Kyle Jamieson returned from paternity leave, though, joining Matt Henry, Zakary Foulkes and Jacob Duffy in a pace quartet that was taken apart by Marsh and fellow opener Travis Head (31), and bled 68 runs in the powerplay.
Henry removed Head and grabbed a second wicket when Marsh smashed straight to Robinson at deep cover.
But the match was well over by that stage, with number three Matt Short having added 29, and Tim David and Alex Carey combining in a 24-run partnership.
Recalled all-rounder Marcus Stoinis faced one delivery, pulling Foulkes to the boundary fence for the winning runs.
Australia was also below strength, with Pat Cummins injured and all-rounder Cameron Green skipping the series to prepare for the Ashes at home.
It hardly mattered as quicks Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis blew away the New Zealand top order with three wickets in the first two overs.
Robinson, who replaced Ravindra in the New Zealand squad after the batter suffered a facial laceration at training, gave home fans reason to cheer with an unbeaten 106 off 66 balls.
But Hazlewood (1-23) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (0-27) otherwise put a chokehold on the batting, ensuring a modest total against Australia's heavy hitters.
"In the powerplays in both innings we got a little bit behind the game," Black Caps stand-in skipper Michael Bracewell said.
"We did well in the batting unit to be able to put a competitive total on the board.
"But when Mitch and Travis came out the way they did, they took the game away from us and we were fighting for a bit of momentum after that."
The series continues on Friday in Tauranga, before wrapping up on Sunday.
Reuters/ABC
