KEY POINTS:
Daniel Vettori last night defended his decision to bat first in the rain-ruined Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
And he reckoned, even after watching New Zealand's top order crumple to 30 for three before the rain set in, that he'd have made the same choice if he had his time again.
The New Zealand skipper's argument was that the pitch was good and he backed his batsmen to put up a competitive score. Any help from the pitch for his left arm spin and offspinner Jeetan Patel would also happen later in the match.
"It was an outstanding wicket, flat with no moisture and whilst we knew there was some rain round, if we could put up a score we would give ourselves a chance," he said last night.
"I would still have done the same with what went on. We just needed a start."
Vettori believes there is a tendency to get talked out of batting first on good pitches by thinking too much of the negatives, such as the pace of the opposition bowling attack.
"But we back ourselves as a batting unit to judge the conditions and play accordingly."
Openers Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum, and No 3 Jamie How were back in the pavilion before the end of the third over, Brett Lee having two for 12 and Nathan Bracken one for 18.
New Zealand were sinking without trace and the trophy was slipping from their grasp before they got a rainy lifeline.
Now they remain afloat for the series finale at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Thursday. Win and they will retain the trophy in what would be a drawn series.
Many former New Zealand players would have enjoyed a spot of black humour at Australia's expense as rain killed off their hopes of lifting the trophy with a game to spare.
Australia have often got the meteorological rub of the green against New Zealand in the past.
Vettori is delighted that, after a long time on the road from South Africa to Australia, they have reached the last game with everything to play for.
"It's a pretty exciting time after a long, long tour. That's the big thing, we can go to Hobart, win a game and hold the trophy."
Vettori maintained confidence was still good despite having had just one international win on the tour.
"I think it's from a few guys having individual performances the whole way. We haven't put it together as a team just yet but still the guys in the dressing room who feel they can compete over here and do well."
Nothing has changed from last night's match to Hobart in that it's "do or die and any time you have one game and two teams, anyone can win on the day. That's the belief we've got in the group because if you don't you might as well give up."
