Elliott sees Black Caps home

Grant Elliott hit 61 not out as New Zealand sent Australia to a fifth consecutive defeat

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Grant Elliott led the way as New Zealand took a 2-0 series lead over Australia with victory in Melbourne.

Elliott, who led New Zealand with 61, smashed a four off Ben Hilfenhaus as the Black Caps reached their target of 226 with seven balls to spare and six wickets still in hand.

Stand-in Australia captain Michael Clarke fell two runs short of his century as his side made 225 for five earlier in the day, but it was not enough to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat.

Mike Hussey chipped in with 75 as Australia sought to cover for the absence of resting skipper Ricky Ponting, but there was desperately little support from the rest of the line-up.

Playing only his 13th game, Elliott proved the unlikely hero for New Zealand as he set a new career ODI high.

Australia's best chance for victory came after Ross Taylor threw away his wicket on 47 with an unnecessary waft but an unbeaten 50-run stand off 44 balls between Elliott and Neil Broom snuffed out hopes of a home comeback.

Chancing their arm, Elliott and Broom regularly cleared the fingertips of desperate Australian fielders by only a matter of inches.

Another victory in Sydney on Sunday for the Black Caps will give them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series and ensure the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy heads across the Tasman. It will also condemn Australia to a sixth straight one-day international defeat for the first time in their history.

This was a match which the visitors assumed control of almost from the get go.

Fielding one of their most inexperienced line-ups in recent times, Australia could not afford another poor start with the bat.

If Clarke's promotion to open the batting was designed to calm a relatively inexperienced top order, it did not work.

David Warner, Brad Haddin and David Hussey were all back in the pavilion by the 18th over - the trio guilty of a rush of blood or a lack of judgement, or in Warner's case a bit of both.

Stand-in captain Michael Clarke promoted himself to open but his fine 98 was not enough

Warner made just two, continuing a topsy-turvy start to his international career.

Predictably, Australia appeared most settled when their two most senior batsmen - Clarke and Michael Hussey - were at the crease.

Showing the patience that comes through experience, the pair took few risks in their 133-run stand, preferring instead to pick holes in the field.

Not that the Black Caps, with Kyle Mills and Iain O'Brien more than capable bookends to their bowling innings, gave them many balls with which to find or clear the rope either.

Mills - who claimed 1-12 from his six overs with the new ball - and O'Brien denied Australia a final flurry at the death.

O'Brien was particularly effective, taking the key wickets of Clarke and Mike Hussey.

Despite an early wicket from Nathan Bracken, Australia's attack again lacked penetration.

James Hopes, a workmanlike all-rounder who rarely lets the team down, lifted the home side's spirits by removing Peter Fulton and key man Brendon McCullum.

Hopes was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 2-30 from 10 overs.

With victory in sight, the composure Taylor showed early in his innings evaporated.

He was dropped on 37 in the deep by Mike Hussey in the 37th over then surrendered his wicket four overs later when he was caught behind trying to smash Mitchell Johnson into another postcode.

Fortunately for Taylor, Elliott and Broom ensured his mistake did not spark a remarkable comeback.