One-day series, Perth: Australia 343-5 (50 overs) beat New Zealand 335-5 (50 overs) by eight runs.Here is the Scorecard.
Australia just managed an eight-run win over New Zealand despite recording the highest one-day total ever in Perth.
Matthew Hayden (117) and Ricky Ponting (111) put on 200 in 34 overs.
Andrew Symonds (24), Michael Hussey (29no) and Cameron White (20no) helped add 101 runs in the last 10 overs to take the hosts to 343-5.
But Jacob Oram hit an unbeaten 101 from 72 balls, with six sixes, and Brendon McCullum smashed 46 from 39 to keep the Kiwis in it until the final over.
Only South Africa - against Australia in Johannesburg last January - have successfully chased a higher target.
The result keeps alive England's mathematical chances of reaching the best-of-three one-day series finals.
But England will struggle to match New Zealand's batting pyrotechnics when they meet the Black Caps at the same venue on Tuesday.
New Zealand began their chase aggressively, with Lou Vincent hitting an assured 67 after being recalled following Nathan Astle's sudden retirement.
His team-mates struggled to settle, though, with three batsmen passing 20 but failing to capitalise.
Vincent was trapped lbw trying to sweep spinner Michael Clarke and Craig McMillan was out 10 balls later - in the 28th over - leaving New Zealand 142-3.
When rain hit, the Kiwis needed, with Jacob Oram blazing on 60 not out, but they were 23 runs down on the Duckworth/Lewis score.
Oram, in just his second match back from injury, found the going easier, though, sharing a stand of 48 with Ross Taylor before finding an ally in McCullum.
He reached 50 from 39 balls, after clubbing sixes off successive balls from Clarke then lofting Glenn McGrath over the boundary rope.
Rain hit with the tourists needing 88 to win from 48 balls and while Oram was not distracted, Australia's bowlers regrouped just enough, Nathan Bracken bowling two vital overs at the death.
On a baking hot day at the Waca, with temperatures touching 40C, Australia had a lucky start when Hayden was dropped at cover by Daniel Vettori on nought.
Hayden survived two more chances, put down by Ross Taylor at mid-on on four and on 79, by substitute fielder Hamish Marshall, also at mid-on.
But, with his World Cup place at the upcoming in the balance, he made the most of his good fortune, reaching his century from 104 balls, with 11 fours.
Ponting did not give a chance in notching his 21st one-day international century in 113 balls, with seven fours and one six.
In his 266th match moved him to fourth in the all-time list of ODI centurions, behind Sachin Tendulkar (40), Sanath Jayasuriya (23) and Sourav Ganguly (22).
Together, Hayden and Ponting reached their century partnership from 113 balls and their stand passed 200 from 203, setting a new second-wicket record at the Waca ground.
New Zealand were punished for resting opening duo Shane Bond and James Franklin with an eye to Tuesday's must-win match against England.
Vettori was the only effective bowler, his 10 overs costing 34 for the wicket of Hayden, who was bowled giving the spinner the charge.
Ponting was caught at deep midwicket after a wild pull at McMillan but the stage was set nicely for Australia's big-hitters
Symonds hit two sixes, White one and Hussey showing his adaptability on his home ground with three shots over the boundary rope.
The previous best score at this ground was the West Indies' 309-6 against Sri Lanka in 1985.
Australia made two changes to the side that beat England on Friday, recalling Bracken and McGrath at the expense of Brad Hogg and Stuart Clark.
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