Smith, Lehmann praise plucky SOS

Steve Smith praised Shaun Marsh's pluck after the much-maligned batsman helped deliver Australia a tense three-wicket win over New Zealand in the inaugural day-night Test.

Renowned for being nervous at the crease, Marsh top-scored with 49 under immense pressure as Australia reeled in their target of 187 late on day three at Adelaide Oval.

"He would have liked to be there at the end but he played really well," Smith said.

"It's great to see him score runs in his first game back."

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Australia coach Darren Lehmann was similarly full of praise for the 32-year-old left-hander, who was recalled to the Test side after Usman Khawaja injured his hamstring in the second Test.

"Apart from (being run-out), I thought he actually looked pretty good in the first innings," Lehmann said of Marsh’s first-innings knock of 2 from 12 balls.

"There's been a lot of criticism of Shaun coming back in the side, but we think he's a good player, and I think he showed that today. 

"He got us across the line and played really well."

Marsh, who played one Test during the Ashes series in England, was tentative early, having started his sixth stint in the Test side with a calamitous run-out in a first-dig collapse of 6-53.

Watch: Marsh's horror run out

But the batsman said he'd learnt the lessons from the Ashes tour of England last winter when he failed to cope with the moving ball, settling in to share important stands with Voges and his younger brother.

"It is something I have worked hard on in the last few months to try and get better at. I knew I had to get better at it," Marsh told Channel Nine said.

"There is still a lot of work there to do but it's heading in the right direction."'

Smith and David Warner both fell in Sunday's middle session and the hosts slipped to 4-115 when Adam Voges was out edging in the second over after dinner.

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It meant the pressure was greater than ever when the Marsh brothers came together to bat in partnership for the first time in a Test.

Their stand of 46 runs looked to have iced the game, but the Black Caps ensured a nervous finish for the hosts.

Australia required another 26 runs when Kane Williamson held a skied catch to dismiss Mitch Marsh.

Shaun Marsh then clammed up and was out edging to Trent Boult when his side needed a further 11 runs.

Watch: Shaun Marsh stands up with crucial knock

There were two runs required when Mitchell Starc surprisingly hobbled out, Peter Nevill having become Boult's fifth victim.

"It was tough work," Marsh said.

"They bowled really well today and made us work really hard ... so happy to get over the line."

Peter Siddle eventually got his side over the line at 8.46pm local time, stroking a ball past point as Starc limped through for the winning runs.

Watch: The thrilling final runs

"It was certainly a very tense finish. Thankfully we were on the right side," Smith said.

"The whole Test was a great innovation. A great spectacle. To get 123,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely amazing."

The pink ball delivered a total attendance of 123,736 plus a spike in TV ratings and no shortage of twists and turns in an enthralling contest.

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The New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum declared day-night Tests were here to say.

"Which is great," McCullum said.

"It certainly asked some different questions ... it's a great concept."

McCullum also expressed his disappointment about third umpire Nigel Llong's error on day two, which helped Nevill, Nathan Lyon and Starc add a further 106 runs to Australia's cause.

"Everyone witnessed what happens. It's unfortunate it did have a bearing on the game," McCullum said.