Kiwi quicks ensure consolation win

Scott Styris held together a slipshod New Zealand batting effort that still proved sufficient to win in Wellington

Buy this photo

Four wickets apiece for Shane Bond and Tim Southee lifted New Zealand to a 51-run win over Australia in the final Chappell-Hadlee one-day international.

Another faltering display with the bat saw the Black Caps post 241 for nine off their 50 overs at Wellington's Westpac Stadium, a total that Australia would typically have reached with ease.

But smarting from two heavy defeats, with the series already gone and the first of two Tests beginning next week, New Zealand produced a fine performance with the ball, led by Bond and Southee, to bowl the visitors out for 190 in 46.1 overs. Australia win the series 3-2.

Bond finished with 4-26, while Southee had career best one-day figures of 4-36 off nine overs.

New Zealand had some luck along the way with Ricky Ponting and Adam Voges both given out dubiously, the captain without scoring.

New Zealand went into the final match of the series knowing an improved batting performance was essential.

It did not materialise and once again it was left to Scott Styris to dig his team-mates out of trouble as they lost early wickets to be 32 for three inside just eight overs.

The all-rounder top-scored with 55, the only Kiwi to make a half-century, and formed vital partnerships of 53 and 68 with Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori respectively.

Daryl Tuffey also chipped in with another cameo of 36 at the end to get his side above 240.

Australia, though, failed to make a strong start in reply, with Bond taking two wickets in two balls as the tourists fell to 27 for two.

First he had Brad Haddin caught by Southee for 17, then was lucky to get Ponting next ball as it flew off the Australia skipper's helmet - not his gloves as umpire Gary Baxter adjudged.

Southee then removed dangerman Cameron White and Voges cheaply. New Zealand's 241 was beginning to look defendable with Australia struggling on 72 for four in 20 overs.

Despite this defeat, Australia still won the series 3-2 and lifted the prestigious Chappell-Hadlee one-day trophy after the match

Buy this photo

Opener Shane Watson’s 55 the only score of note, bringing up his 15th one-day fifty - and first in the series - with a single off Nathan McCullum the 23rd over.

But the spinner eventually got his man when Watson hit one straight to Taylor to end his 79-ball stay that produced just four boundaries.

It was McCullum's first one-day wicket in his third match and was the result of the pressure he and fellow spinner Daniel Vettori were able to build with good tight bowling that kept Australia pinned down.

Mike Hussey and James Hopes were left to do the rebuilding with 50 for the sixth wicket.

They then opted to take the batting powerplay but Southee was brought back into the fray and struck in successive overs to remove Hussey then Mitchell Johnson.

Hussey received a yorker that cannoned into the stumps, leaving him four runs shy of his fifty.

The next over Johnson holed out to substitute fielder James Franklin and Australia were staring down the barrel.

Bond then had Nathan Hauritz caught by Styris, Vettori got Hopes for 40, before the New Zealand quick combined with Southee to dismiss Clint McKay and wrap up the win.