At an empty Sky Stadium, Finch roared back into form with 69, before Glenn Maxwell's quick-fire 70 pushed Australia to 4-208 and beyond the Black Caps' reach.

Ashton Agar then provided a second innings turning point, claiming three wickets in the 13th over on his way to a career-best 6-30.

In doing so, he became the fourth person and first Australian to claim six wickets in a T20 innings.

Tasmanian speedster Riley Meredith took an impressive 2-24 on debut as New Zealand finished all out for 144.

The result keeps the series in the balance - the Kiwis lead 2-1 with two matches to go - and takes some pressure off the under-fire Australian skipper.

Finch did need a slice of good fortune though, surviving a first ball lbw shout by umpire Chris Gaffaney with the ball hitting the stumps.

Shaking off the scare, Finch combined well with Josh Philippe (43 off 27), reaching his half-century with a stunning switch-hit six off Ish Sodhi.

The 34-year-old holed out from the spinner shortly after, but put his run of poor knocks firmly in the rear-view mirror.

Australia's captain, who has been backed in to October's World Cup despite not making even a half-century all through the Big Bash, said he'd be lying if the pressure wasn't getting to him.

"Sometimes the harder you try the worse you get in this game," he said.

"You can sometimes get caught up in searching for a score and searching for the result and forgetting about the process."

Reflecting on the lbw decision, he smiled and said: "You have days when they go against you and today it went my way.

"That's how the game goes doesn't it."

Maxwell, who had also missed out on runs this series, was even more impressive.

The Victorian started slowly with just five off nine but accelerated sharply, making 65 off his next 20 balls, including 28 off one Jimmy Neesham over as Australia powered past 200.

Setting out for what would be their highest-ever chase, the Kiwis struggled in response to Meredith's pace.

In his first international over, the 24-year-old claimed the wicket of Tim Seifert (4) as he ticked over 150kmph.

In his second, he sent the world's No.1-ranked Test batsman to the sheds, trapping Kane Williamson lbw for nine.

Martin Guptill's big-hitting was the chief threat to Australia - and even his own skipper.

Guptill almost decapitated the off-strike Williamson with a low drive on his way to 43 off 28 deliveries.

When the veteran was caught in the deep off Adam Zampa's bowling, Australia were in the box seat.

Agar then made sure of the victory with a stunning spell, claiming his first wickets of the series to dismiss Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway and Jimmy Neesham in one over, before running riot.

The COVID-hit series concludes with further matches at Sky Stadium on Friday and Sunday.

Australian Associated Press