However, it wasn't the contentious opening position that hurt Australia, rather two crippling collapses in the middle and lower order.
After all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner toiled brilliantly to restrict the Black Caps to just 142, Australia completely butchered their run chase to lose by eight runs.
Michael Slater (former Australia batsmen): "For the second match in a row the opposition of New Zealand thought they were chasing a comfortable score, but that team in the beige move to two wins from two. Two big victories at that."
Tom Moody (former Australian all-rounder): "It's New Zealand's day. They've played the conditions well here and combined as a unit, exceptionally well led by Kane Williamson."
Radio Sport's Matt Brown talks to Grant Elliott:
Man of the match Mitchell McClenaghan: "It's nice to perform like that but it's as a collective. The spinners were fantastic bringing us back into the game, the guys really stood up.
"It's nice to show some teams we can play in these conditions. Well take confidence from this but there are still two more games, we have got to win to get through. The Aussies never give up, full credit to them. I'm sure well see them later in the tournament."
Australia captain Steve Smith: "I thought around 150 was about par. Obviously their spinners bowled extremely well again and we didn't respond well. You can't lose wickets in clumps like that, we couldn't get any partnerships together.
"We didn't apply ourselves enough. We should have knocked the ball around a bit more rather than going for the big shots. But these things happen and we have to move on."
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: "We're fortunate to play on two wickets that were very similar. It was nice to get a score on the board that, on this surface, was tough to chase.
"It's important that you read the conditions and select accordingly. Today we thought we had to be different again and I'm pleased with the way the boys stepped up.
"It's important we gel well. We look at the task at hand and perform as best we can."
More from Australia captain Steve Smith: "We've a lot more to do. We need to find success in the middle order because there's a lot of power in the back end if we can keep wickets in hand. We have to find a way to do it and hopefully we can do for the next game."
Match centre with scorecard, wagon wheel and Manhattan/Worm
Ben Horne: New Zealand have virtually assured themselves of a semi-final berth having defeated India in their first match, and only need to beat qualifiers Bangladesh to book their place in the knock-out stage.
Australia on the other hand can hardly afford to drop another game -and that will entail beating sub-continental kings India, Pakistan as well as Bangladesh in Bangalore on Monday.
