Taylor steers Kiwis to a thrilling win

New Zealand managed to clinch a thriller against Australia, winning the first one-dayer by two wickets at Perth.

After bundling out Australia for a mere 181 runs in the first one-dayer at the WACA Ground, New Zealand won the cliff-hanger by two wickets to lead the the five-match ODI series 1-0 on Sunday.

New Zealand lost both the openers -- Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill early. While, Peter Fulton (7) and Grant Elliot (8) followed them to the dressing room as well.

But Ross Taylor came to his team's rescue, playing a patient knock of 64, which ultimately turned out to be decisive and helped his team win the game. He also shared a valuable 62-run partnership with Kyle Mills (26).

However, Australia did well to fight back after returning Taylor.

The world champions, who forfeited their official status as the world's best ODI team following a 4-1 series defeat against South Africa, needed a dominant display with the ball in order to make an immediate return to the top of the one-day international rankings.

A victory today would have moved them back to the top but the Black Caps managed to hold on to their nerves.

Earlier, Mike Hussey (49) was the only Australian batsman to offer any resistance, but his dismissal summed up the home side's batting performance - uncharacteristically chipping a simple catch to mid-off from Iain O'Brien from the first ball of Australia's batting powerplay in the 44th over.

Some late hitting from Mitchell Johnson (20) and Shaun Tait (nine), who put on 27 for the last wicket, gave the score some respectability as they were bowled out for the fourth consecutive game.

Mills takes four for 35

The Kiwis effort was led by new-ball bolwer Kyle Mills, who quickly removed inexperienced openers Shaun Marsh (15) and David Warner (seven), on his way to figures of four for 35.

Australia's cause was not aided by untimely run outs of captain Ricky Ponting (five) and Michael Clarke (12) and when David Hussey was caught down the leg side by Brendon McCullum off the bowling of off-spinner Jeetan Patel, Australia were reeling at 54 for five.

Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin stemmed the tide with a 61-run stand for the sixth wicket, but those runs came at a laboured pace - mainly due to the stifling off-spin of Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori who conceded just 22 from his 10 overs.

Eventually Haddin's patience broke and he played on to his own stumps after advancing down the wicket to Mills for 31 from 54 balls.

That left Australia 115 for six from 35 overs and while Mike Hussey and James Hopes (18) put on 27 runs to set the scene for a late attack, both fell in the first over of the Australians' batting powerplay, bowled by O'Brien, to further frustrate the home fans.

Nathan Bracken then fell for a duck in the next over when he was trapped lbw by Tim Southee (one for 34).

Johnson and Tait frustrated the visitors briefly in their 27-run stand for the last wicket, but Mills had the final say when he bowled Johnson.

Teams:

Australia: Shaun Marsh, David Warner, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Peter Fulton, Ross Taylor, Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori (capt), Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien.