Australia captain Ricky Ponting led a record run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to defeat the BLACKCAPS.
Ponting returned from injury to post 104 as his side completed a five-wicket victory to bounce back from their defeat to England.
Hometown batsman Brad Hodge recorded an unbeaten 99 to finish off the work started by the skipper.
James Franklin had removed both openers, Matthew Hayden (28) and Adam Gilchrist to give the BLACKCAPS a promising start to their defence of 290.
Lou Vincent struck 90 as the New Zealanders, who elected to bat first, posted an impressive total.
Vincent continued his strong form in the Tri-Series since his recall with an innings-leading score before falling to Shaun Tait.
Peter Fulton hit 60 in a second-wicket stand of 151 with the State Auckland Aces opener.
Fleming won the toss and elected to bat first, but was first man out, for nine, caught at mid-off by Michael Hussey off Brett Lee.
Vincent and Fulton pushed on before the State Canterbury Wizards batsman was trapped lbw by Michael Clarke, dismissed for his highest ODI score of the season.
Ross Taylor contributed 21 and the returning Styris 34 on his return. In-form Jacob Oram made 15 before he was caught deep of point, and Brendon McCullum in his 100th ODI, contributed 19.
The Australian openers put on 56 for the first wicket, but Franklin struck with the final ball of the 11th and 13th overs.
Ponting took charge, first with Michael Clarke (23) and then decisively in a 154-run stand with Victoria captain Hodge.
The late removals of Ponting, caught well at deep mid off by Vincent off Mark Gillespie, and the run-out of the dangerous Michael Hussey (eight) came too late to halt the fluent scoring by the home team.
The defeat leaves the BLACKCAPS requiring to win or tie with England in Brisbane to progress to the Tri-Series best-of-three final .
