New Delhi: Australia won the second ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series on Wednesday night after a thrilling two-run win over New Zealand at Westpac Stadium.
The Kiwis began their run-chase well and kept up with the asking run-rate but fell at the final hurdle when Kyle Mills was run out off the second last ball of the match just two runs short of the victory target.
In probably a first in international cricket, the third umpire was called on to decide Mills' run out by Australian debutant pacer Mick Lewis.
The match was over when the tailender was judged to be centimetres short.
In the end New Zealand had come within a whisker of pulling off a remarkable win but fell short by two runs.
Andrew Symonds, named man-of-the-match, played himself into the record books with a career-best 156 to propel Australia to their higest scorte of 322 runs on foreign soil.
He came to the crease with his side a struggling at 50 for the loss of three wickets and blasted his runs off just 127 balls, which contained eight sixes.
He is now the only No.5 batsman in one-day history to have passed 150 and it took him just 18 balls to blast his final 56 runs.
He shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 220 with Michael Clarke, whose scored a delightful 82 not out and the stand was just the 10th partnership of 200 or more for Australia in 605 one-day internationals.
Also, it was one of the quickest as it came from 172 balls and allowed Australia to plunder 190 runs from the last 20 overs - 67 from the final four.
Australia's total appeared too big for New Zealand, but they made a tremendous attempt at hauling in the target.
New Zealand was given a free-wheeling start by opener Lou Vincent (71 off 49 balls).
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This was followed through by a late charge from Chris Cairns (60 off 52), Jacob Oram (41 off 40) and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, who made 48 off 33 until he was run out at the bowler's end by a brilliant direct hit by Clarke from point.
In a match that had just about everything, Brett Lee sparked controversy by bowling a beamer at McCullum in the penultimate over, which was edged away for four and called a no-ball.
In the same over, Australia was penalised a no-ball because it had only three fielders inside the circle instead of four.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting protested against the umpire's decision to no avail, and Lee's over cost 18 runs - which left the Black Caps needing six off Lewis' final over to win.
But the Victorian, who was subbed into the game and took 3-56 in his international debut, was up to the task.
Earlier, Vincent batted with a runner because of a thigh injury and swung at everything, but after taking the scare-factor out of Lee, he was caught behind off Lewis.
Lewis returned to remove Cairns in the 41st over, caught at long-on by Lee, who soon after had Oram caught slashing to third man.
Australia's win, after the 147-run win in game one, in Auckland, was its eighth straight over New Zealand and made it the first winner of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, after last year's decider was washed out.
Ricky Ponting's men will seek a second one-day whitewash over their trans-Tasman rivals this year - Australia won 5-0 in March - in game three, in Christchurch on Saturday.
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