Australia have won the second one-day international in Wellington despite a late flurry of boundaries from Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori.
The Black Caps were set a revised target of 266 to win from 45 overs, after a break in play for rain, but fell just short, slipping to 253 all out with 10 deliveries left.
The Aussies got off to a superb start after electing to bat first, with Shane Watson (47) and Brad Haddin (53) putting on an opening partnership of 73.
However Watson's dismissal saw the visitors slip to 116-4 as skipper Ricky Ponting went for just one, followed by Haddin and Michael Clarke, who made just 11.
But the tourists' middle order once again came to the rescue with Cameron White and Mike Hussey both making half centuries as Australia posted 273-7 from their 50 overs.
That total was revised by the Duckworth-Lewis method but it seemed as though the hosts would get nowhere near the 266 they needed to take a 2-0 series lead after they slipped to 89-5 with Mitchell Johnson (4-51) and Ryan Harris (3-34) doing most of the damage.
But Scott Styris began the revival, making 46, before Gareth Hopkins chipped in with 34 and Vettori hammered 70 from just 79 deliveries, with eight fours and two sixes.
However the left-hander ran out of partners and was last man out with the score on 253 from 43.2 overs.
The sides will do battle once again on Tuesday in Wellington in game three of the five-match series to determine the destination of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.