Australia 165 for 8 (Perry 52, Mooney 38, J Kerr 3-25) beat New Zealand 162 for 2 (Plimmer 85*, Green 56*, Sutherland 1-28, Garth 1-34) by two wickets
Australia endured a sloppy chase marked by several ham-fisted dismissals in an unconvincing return to the T20 format since winning the World Cup. But a rapid half-century from Ellyse Perry helped Australia overcome a plucky new-look New Zealand and draw first blood in the three-match series.
Perry smashed 52 off 30 balls as Australia chased down the 163-run target with seven balls to spare on a flat North Sydney Oval surface. But there were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 16th over.
Skipper Sophie Molineux got Australia to the brink until missing an attempted lap sweep and bowled by Rosemary Mair, with four runs still needed. But Kim Garth stroked a beautiful square drive to the boundary as Australia claimed victory in a thriller.
Australia were without batter Phoebe Litchfield, who was ruled out with a hip injury. She was replaced by Tahlia McGrath in Australia's only change from the side that beat England in the T20 World Cup final in July.
New Zealand can be encouraged by their new era after the retirements of stalwarts Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu.
After being sent in to bat, New Zealand made a competitive 162 for 2 with opener Georgia Plimmer hitting a career-best 85 not out off 68 balls while Maddy Green stroked an unbeaten 56 off 37 balls. They combined for an unbroken 129-run partnership, but rued not throwing the bat earlier.
Perry stars in patchy Australia batting effort
Australia would have been disappointed with their performance in the field despite restricting New Zealand to a seemingly middling total.
Their chase started disastrously when Georgia Voll fell on the second ball of the innings after being trapped lbw by an in-swinger from left-armer Bree Illing. She reviewed only to fall on an umpire's call in a tight decision.
But Perry and Beth Mooney snuffed out New Zealand's momentum with consistent boundaries mixed with hard-running in a quick 86-run partnership.
Mooney was keen to make amends after a rough effort with the gloves, and she looked at ease despite enduring problems with her contact lenses, which she had to take out early in her innings.
Her lack of vision did not seem to have any adverse effect, with Mooney and Perry trading blows. Mooney seemed on course for a half-century until being dismissed on 38 when she was run out in strange fashion. She took off for a run that was not on after seemingly losing concentration amid a loud shout for lbw.
The bizarre dismissal did not impact Perry, who fittingly reached her 27-ball half-century with a brilliant straight drive. But Perry fell in tame fashion when she smashed a Jess Kerr long hop straight to deep backward square.
Ashleigh Gardner made a cameo to get Australia closer before she fell lbw to Jess Kerr on review. Wickets kept falling, including Nicola Carey run out in a big mix up, as Australia threatened to botch it before limping over the line.
New Zealand fight against the odds
New Zealand's inexperienced side appeared set for a pummelling when Perry and Mooney were in full bloom. But they chipped away to keep their hopes of a major upset alive.
It didn't eventuate, but skipper Melie Kerr will be encouraged by the young team she's moulding. Illing, in her 16th T20I, was dangerous with the new ball while Jess stepped up in key moments to finish with 3 for 25 off 4 overs.
Melie, however, would have been disappointed with her own performance after conceding 50 in four overs in the worst figures of her career.
Hamilton sluggish on return
Australia's selectors faced a major dilemma once left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton was declared fit after overcoming a hip injury, which had kept her out of the Bangladesh ODI series. Bring her back or stick with quick Megan Schutt, who had starred with 10 wickets from three matches against Bangladesh?
They opted for Hamilton, who could not repay the faith after finishing with 0-23 off 2 overs. She struggled to find her lengths after coming into the attack in the 4th over. While it didn't go to plan with the ball, Hamilton did contribute with a blinder of a catch to dismiss Melie after diving forward at fine-leg.
It was the best moment in the field for Australia. Mooney had an uncharacteristically rough time with the gloves after a missed stumping and dropped catch while keeping up, reprieving Plimmer on 15 and 39.
Plimmer and Green stand up for inexperienced NZ
There was an unknown over how New Zealand's inexperienced batting line-up would fare after the retirements of legendary Devine and Bates following the T20 World Cup.
They had a new opening combination of Plimmer and Flora Devonshire, who are both aged in their early 20s. It was an experiment on spinning allrounder Devonshire, who hadn't batted in her previous three T20Is having been listed at No.9 in those games.
But Devonshire lasted just four deliveries after being bowled through the gate by a cracking inswinger from Garth. Much more experienced, with 55 T20Is to her name, Plimmer was determined to grab her opportunity having been dropped during New Zealand's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
Plimmer showed great intent and did not let bowlers settle. She shifted gears superbly after a slow start to reach her half-century off 40 balls. She combined well with Green, who stepped up as her side's most experienced player with sublime touch throughout a well-paced innings.
Green put the foot down in the back-end, including 14 runs in a three-ball whirlwind off Carey, as she reached her half-century in 33 balls but it proved not enough.