KEY POINTS:
Jacob Oram defied the pundits to lead his side within a whisker of stunning Australia early today, his maiden century leaving New Zealand just eight runs short in a tri-series thriller at the WACA in Perth.
Set a winning target of 344 after contrasting centuries from Matthew Hayden
and Ricky Ponting, New Zealand launched a memorable late charge on the back of some extreme hitting from Oram, before falling agonisingly short in the final stanzas.
With time running out, Oram launched his last-ditch effort from the 38th over mark, striking the fastest ODI century by a New Zealander as his side finished on 335 for five, having earlier negotiated an inconvenient weather interruption.
Oram, who made 86 in his previous innings, helped himself to a brace of sixes and a four off Michael Clarke's ninth over, hit Glenn McGrath for a huge six in the next over, and took a boundary off Nathan Bracken on the way to his fifth ODI 50 off just 39 balls.
Together with Brendon McCullum, he shared in a scarcely believable 137-run unbroken stand for the sixth wicket, eventually leaving the field to a standing ovation after a personal best innings of 101 that lasted just 72 balls, and included six sixes and four fours.
Apart from Oram's pyrotechnics, there were also some other encouraging aspects to emerge from the chase, not least the performance of replacement opening batsman Lou Vincent, who revealed all his usual firepower while striking 67 off 82 balls.
Rushed to fill the vacancy left by Nathan Astle, Vincent shared in a first wicket stand of 47 with Stephen Fleming and a second wicket partnership of 60 with Peter Fulton, before becoming the third wicket to fall in the 26th over.
Having posted his eighth ODI half-century he was extremely unlucky to be adjudged leg before wicket while attempting a sweep off Andrew Symonds, despite the fact that television replays showed the ball cannoning into his gloves.
Although the Kiwis tried desperately to get the innings back on track after the setback, Craig McMillan soon followed to a direct hit run-out from Mitchell Johnson, and Ross Taylor - hampered by an injured left-hand - was bowled around his legs by Clarke.
New Zealand would have been left ruing another chapter of fielding bloopers earlier in the day as Australia's batsmen defied oppressive temperatures to power to their best performance of the series.
Hayden's 117 included missed catches off his bat when he was on 0, 4, and 79; the first chance being spilt by Daniel Vettori in the second over, the second by Ross Taylor in the seventh, and the third by Hamish Marshall in the 34th.
While Hayden scratched and butchered his way to three figures, Ponting was in another class as he blazed 111 off 122 balls, an innings that contained eight fours, a six and - even more astonishing given the conditions - 46 hard-run singles.
The result leaves New Zealand one point ahead of England, with tomorrow's showdown against Duncan Fletcher's beleaguered side beckoning as their most important game of the season.
Scoreboard
Australia
A Gilchrist c Patel b Mills 13
M Hayden b Vettori 117
R Ponting c Fulton b McMillan 111
M Clarke c sub (Marshall) b Patel 7
A Symonds b Gillespie 24
M Hussey not out 29
C White not out 20
Extras (2lb, 18w, 2nb) 22
- -
Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 343
Falls: 1/28, 2/228, 3/254, 4/275, 5/293
Bowling: K. Mills 10-1-72-1 (2w), M. Gillespie 10-1-76-1 (1nb, 12w), J. Oram 5-0-50-0, D. Vettori 10-0-34-1 (1w), J. Patel 10-0-67-1 (1nb, 1w), C. McMillan 3-0-26-1, R. Taylor 2-0-16-0 (2w).
New Zealand
L Vincent lbw b Clarke 66
SP Fleming c Gilchrist b McGrath 28
PG Fulton c Hayden b Johnson 23
RL Taylor b Clarke 39
CD McMillan run out (Johnson) 5J
DP Oram not out 101
BB McCullum not out 46
Extras (2b, 5lb, 18w, 2nb) 27
--
Total (5 wickets; 50 overs) 335
Fall: 1/47, 2/107, 3/142, 4/150, 5/198.
Bowling: B. Lee 10-0-53-0 (1w), N. Bracken 10-1-75-0 (1w), G. McGrath 10-0-72-1 (2nb), M. Johnson 6-0-48-1 (2w), M. Clarke 9-0-48-2 (2w), A. Symonds 5-0-32-0 (2w).
Australia won by 8 runs.