Haddin hundred puts Australia in front

Brad Haddin goes on the offensive early in his 110, which dictated Australia's pursuit of 246 in a day-night encounter at Seddon Park

Buy this photo

A superbly-paced century from Brad Haddin, featuring a 151-run second-wicket partnership with Ricky Ponting, set up a comfortable win for Australia against New Zealand in the third Chappell-Hadlee one-day international in Hamilton.

Haddin’s 110 from 121 deliveries, containing seven fours and five sixes, guided the tourists to the verge of a six-wicket victory after Ponting, who won the toss, had contributed a 71-ball 69.

Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris earlier claimed three wickets apiece to bowl New Zealand out for 245 in 46.2 overs in the day-night encounter at a packed Seddon Park.

It was a total Australia had no trouble in reaching; they cruised past the target with 16 balls to spare to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Haddin punished Michael Mason in particular, included with Daryl Tuffey (calf) and James Franklin (hamstring) missing, taking 20 from the seamer’s first international over since 2008.

The hosts did, however, welcome back Ross Taylor, who shrugged off a leg problem that kept him out of the previous match in Auckland, to top-score for his side 62.

Strike bowler Shane Bond also left the field towards the end of the match after taking a blow to the thumb of his left hand when attempting a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Haddin in the seventh over.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was only on eight at the time and made the most of his opportunity to bring up his fifty off 51 balls.

Haddin had another nervous moment on 83 when Tim Southee spilled him in the deep off occasional off-spinner Martin Guptill.

There were no nerves in the 90s from the wicketkeeper-batsman, who launched Scott Styris for six to move to 99 and went to three figures with a single off the next ball.

Brendon McCullum plays on for 23 to Ryan Harris, the first of the Australia seamer's three wickets

Buy this photo

New Zealand broke through in the eighth over when Shane Watson was brilliantly run out by Gareth Hopkins for 15, but Haddin and Ponting broke the back of the run-chase before the latter hit a short delivery from Mason to Taylor at midwicket.

Mike Hussey, promoted to number four after Michael Clarke’s sudden departure back to Australia on the eve of the match, lasted only 15 balls before he top-edged Tim Southee.

Haddin was then stumped off Daniel Vettori with less than 20 required for victory, but Cameron White and Adam Voges completed the task with 25 and 13 not out respectively.

In the afternoon, Taylor once again led the way for the Black Caps but could not prevent another below-par performance with the bat.

His 15th one-day fifty included four fours and two sixes, but a lapse in concentration saw him pull Watson to Hussey at deep square-leg.

Taylor and Neil Broom’s 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket was the highest of the innings and a vital one after Peter Ingram was bowled by Harris in the first over, Brendon McCullum played on to Bollinger for 23 and Guptill was caught at short cover off Johnson for 21.

With Taylor and Broom giving some impetus, Johnson was reintroduced and in his first over back had Broom caught at first slip for 24. Taylor followed shortly after to leave New Zealand 146 for five.

Styris produced a gritty knock and he and Hopkins got New Zealand beyond the 200-run mark before the former holed out off Watson for 41.

Vettori was brilliantly run out for nought by Ponting with a direct hit and Hopkins was taken at mid-off for 45 off Harris, who cleaned up Southee in the same powerplay over.

Johnson wrapped up the innings with 3.4 overs unused when Bond edged behind.