New Zealand have won a thrilling Twenty20 against Australia in Christchurch after the Super Over was required to split the two sides.

With both tied on 214 runs at the end of 40 fascinating overs the match headed for the sudden-death tie-break and Tim Southee, who bowled superbly at the death for the hosts, stepped up and delivered.

He restricted Australia, who used Cameron White, David Warner and Brad Haddin, to six for one off his six deliveries and then watched as the pressure got to visiting fast bowler Shaun Tait who fired down two wides as man-of-the-match Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill made nine for no loss in New Zealand's over to give them the win to level the series 1-1.

McCullum was simply outstanding from start to finish at AMI Stadium. His unbeaten 116 spearheaded New Zealand's innings as they looked to rebound from the disappointing display in Wellington two days ago.

For a while the target of 215 looked as though it would be too much for Australia but 47 from Brad Haddin and half-centuries from Michael Clarke (67) and the big-hitting Cameron White (64 not out) left the game in the balance with three overs to go.

But Southee produced a fine spell of bowling at the death with White and Clarke unable to get the 12 runs required from the final over, sending the match into an elimination over finale.

The highlight of the match though was McCullum's maiden Twenty20 century.

He attacked from the off and smacked the ball to all parts of the ground and such was his skill that he was scooping sixes and boundaries behind the wicket off express paceman Tait at the end.

His 100 in 50 balls (six sixes and 12 boundaries) matched Chris Gayle's record effort against South Africa in September 2007 but the New Zealand wicket-keeper could not knock the West Indian off the top of the highest Twenty20 scores list, finishing unbeaten on 116, one run shy of Gayle's total.

But his eight huge sixes were the most by a New Zealander in an innings - surpassing Jacob Oram's six against Australia in 2007 - and third on the all-time list behind Gayle (10) and Loots Bosman (nine).

Even the first-over departure of fellow opener Peter Ingram (duck) could not distract him.

He maintained his aggressive approach with Martin Guptill turning over the strike whenever possible. The pair put on 52 runs for the second wicket before Guptill holed out to Steve Smith off Ryan Harris for 17.

His dismissal sparked a bad spell for the New Zealanders who lost three wickets for 15 runs in the space of just four overs as Australia captain Michael Clarke introduced his slower-paced bowlers to good effect.

Ross Taylor came and went quickly, run out for six, and James Franklin dragged a Smith delivery to Michael Clarke to leave the hosts at 77 for four.

But Gareth Hopkins, as he did with Franklin in a losing cause in Wellington, helped reignite New Zealand's innings as he and McCullum rattled off 68 runs in 30 balls during which time the opener notched his half-century as a Travis Birt misfield gifted him a seventh four to lift him to 51 off 33 balls.

Hopkins was showing similar intent at the other end and hit two sixes and three boundaries in his 17-ball 36 before he stepped onto his wicket sending a Dirk Nannes (one for 51 off four) delivery to the rope.

Jacob Oram's poor run with the bat continued. The big all-rounder lasted just three balls before being bowled by Shaun Tait (two for 40 off four) without scoring.

That brought Nathan McCullum (14 not out) to the crease and the brothers ramped things up in the final three overs to get New Zealand past the 200-run mark for the first time in the shortest form of the game. Australia's reply began well with Warner quick to punish Southee's wayward bowling early on.

But after reaching 20 off just 10 balls he holed out to Southee off the bowling of Shane Bond.

Haddin and Clarke took up the challenge, adding 73 runs for the second wicket before the Australian wicket-keeper pulled James Franklin's first ball of the match to Peter Ingram at deep mid-wicket.

Clarke brought up his 50 off just 31 balls shortly afterwards, then David Hussey was cleaned out by Franklin to leave Australia at 132 for three.

White was quickly into his stride though, clubbing two sixes off Vettori to kick-start his innings. He survived a couple of nervous moments - being dropped by Nathan McCullum and avoiding a run-out when Hopkins fumbled the ball with the match in the balance - and he and Clarke did enough in the closing stages to force the tie and set up a thrilling finale.