AUS v NZ: New Zealand beat Australia despite Stoinis' heroic ton

Pictures: AFP

Auckland: New Zealand beat Australia by six runs on Monday in the first Chappell-Hadlee one-day cricket international at Eden Park to take a 1-0 lead in the three match series.

Australia's decision to bowl on winning the toss was a surprise. It is almost a rule of thumb for Australian teams to bat first in all formats and the drop-in pitch at Eden Park looked rock hard and full of runs.

The decision fell to Aaron Finch who, on his recall to the Australian one-day lineup, found himself captain when first Steve Smith withdrew from the New Zealand tour with an ankle injury, then Matthew Wade — Smith's replacement as captain — pulled out of the opening match after hurting his back in training.

Finch's decision seemed to have backfired as New Zealand, after losing opener Tom Latham at 13, hurried along at more than six runs per over in the early party of its innings, with Guptill reaching his 32nd ODI half century from 47 balls with eight fours.

But the Australian bowlers showed they had learned the hard lessons of bowling on Eden Park, where they were narrowly beaten by New Zealand during the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup.