Australia has completed its highest successful run chase against New Zealand with Alex Carey steering the team to a clean-sweep of the two-Test series.
Set 279 to win and collapsing to 4/34 in the second Test, Carey, with supporting acts from Mitch Marsh and Pat Cummins, helped Australia to a three-wicket win at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Carey's 98 not out was the defining knock and his 140-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Mitch Marsh (80) was the catalyst for getting Australia to a winning position.
MORE: What was on Usman Khawaja's bat? Australian star removes sticker during Test vs. New Zealand
At the end of day three, Cameron Green was bowled leaving the Aussies reeling at 4/34, with Marsh coming out to bat on a pair alongside Travis Head.
Marsh and Head survived until stumps with Australia on 4/77 but the latter was dismissed after the team only added three more runs at the start of day four.
That brought Carey to crease with Australia still needing 199 runs to win with only five wickets in hand.
However, Australia looked to be closing in on victory with Marsh and Carey looking comfortable and eroding the deficit to only needing 59 runs with five wickets in hand.
But Black Caps debutant Ben Sears snared Marsh LBW, with a review showing the ball barely clipping leg stump.
And the next ball, the young fast bowler nabbed Mitchell Starc, who flicked a catch to Will Young.
Suddenly, Australia were 7/220, and still needed 59 runs with Carey and captain Pat Cummins at the crease.
However, no more wickets fell as Carey got the job done agonisingly short of a magnificent ton, while Cummins did his bit with a supporting 32-run knock to carry his bat also.
While Carey deservedly won player of the match, New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry won player of the series, despite his nation losing both Tests, with his 17 wickets leading all bowlers.
