D’ARCY SHORT hit 76 and David Warner struck a 24-ball 59 today as Australia pulled off the highest successful run chase in Twenty20 international cricket to beat New Zealand by five wickets in the trans-Tasman tri-series.

Almost 500 runs were scored overall in an extraordinary display of sustained power-hitting. New Zealand equalled its highest T20 score of 243-6 after choosing to bat first and Australia reached 245-5 with seven balls remaining.

Martin Guptill scored the fastest T20 century by a New Zealander, from 49 balls, and put on 132 in 10.4 overs for the first wicket with Colin Munro (76 from 33). Guptill went on to make 105 and to take his tally of runs in T20 cricket to 2,188 — the highest by any player from any country.

At the break between innings, New Zealand’s total had looked insurmountable. From the moment Guptill hit the first ball of the New Zealand innings for four until Ross Taylor hit the last ball for six, the home team scored at an unprecedented rate.

Australia has already qualified for the final. New Zealand will play England tomorrow to decide which team takes the other place.