Australian captain Aaron Finch's latest failure with the bat has prompted the third top-order falter from his men in canary yellow within the space of 12 days.
With his previous form with the blade evading him, Finch fell for a second ball duck during the second ODI against the travelling Kiwis at Cairns' Cazaly's Stadium.
Opting for an aggressive opening to his innings after losing the toss and being sent in, the bearded Victorian mistimed a lofted cover drive, spooning the new ball to his captaincy counterpart Kane Williamson instead.
The furnace is only set to intensify under the 35-year-old after proving able to post just 24 runs from 44 balls faced across the course of the past five ODIs against Zimbabwe and the Blackcaps on home soil.
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Finch's opening partner David Warner fell foul in an almost identical fashion, with the left-hander finding Williamson again off a second Matt Henry delivery, dismissed for 5 from 11 balls faced.
The fidgety Marnus Labuschagne and the adonis-built Marcus Stoinis both came and went in quick succession, burning both of Australia's reviews on Trent Boult deliveries which were respectively predicted to send leg and middle stump cartwheeling.
Across the course of the exceedingly premature start to their home summer, the Australian's assorted top-order combinations have crumbled under the dimmed Queensland sun, posting scores of just 72, 44 and 55 from their past trio of starts.
While Andrew McDonald's charges were able to rely upon a stunning stand from Cameron Green and Alex Carey to steer them from trouble during the series opener against Williamson's men, the fightback came after a dispiriting loss to the Zimbabweans in Townsville to start the month of September.
At the time of writing, Glenn Maxwell has partnered with Steve Smith at the crease, with the score currently standing at 5 for 55 after 19 overs.
