27 February 2005	Sunday	17 Muharram 1426

AUCKLAND, Feb 26: An unbroken 136-run partnership by Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey and a terrorising spell of bowling by Brett Lee carried Australia to an 86-run win over New Zealand Saturday to wrap up the One-day International series with two matches to spare.

The rescue partnership, an Australian record for the sixth wicket, began with the world champions struggling at 128 for five and carried them to 264 at the end of their 50 overs.

In reply New Zealand offered meek resistance as Lee took the key wickets of Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns, and sent recalled batsman Michael Papps to hospital, leaving the home side out for 178 with eight overs remaining.

Brad Hogg cleaned up the tail with three of the last four wickets which fell in the space of 10 runs

It was Australia's 11th win from their last 12 matches against New Zealand, and Fleming conceded his team had no answer.

"We weren't good enough as we haven't been throughout the series. They never let us gain any momentum and we were outplayed in all departments."

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was ecstatic at his side's effort.

"It was pretty good, yeah. We were in a bit of trouble but Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey played beautifully," Ponting said.

"It was a total we were confident of defending. The way they played was a great bonus for us."

Clarke, after scores of nought and 23, notched 71 not out off 75 balls while Hussey, in only his third One-day International, scored an unbeaten 65 off 73, and they plundered 56 off the last five overs.

Opener Simon Katich, recalled in place of the injured Matthew Hayden, scored 58 off 78 balls before falling to spinner Daniel Vettori who again turned the innings for New Zealand.

He took two for 31 off 10 overs, including the wicket of Damien Martyn for one, and with medium pacers Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan put the brakes on as Australia went from 68 without loss to 128 for five in the space of 13 overs.

When New Zealand came out in reply they faced a fired-up Lee who regularly topped 150 kilometres (93 miles) an hour, and removed Fleming for his third consecutive failure in the series when he played on to his stumps for one in the third over.

Then Papps, recalled for the axed Mathew Sinclair, was given a torrid welcome by Lee who hit him twice on the helmet with bouncers.

The second one cracked Papps square on the right temple and he was helped off the field, and after suffering dizzy spells was sent to hospital for overnight observation.

When Nathan Astle was caught behind off Michael Kasprowicz for 27 it looked bleak, and after a stand of 69 between Marshall and Craig McMillan, who slogged out for 26, it went downhill again.

Marshall and his twin brother James, making his debut, were both run out from cover by Andrew Symonds. Hamish Marshall top scored for New Zealand with 55 and James made 14.

Cairns tried his best to boost the run rate, but on 12 flayed Lee to a diving Hussey at deep point and it was all over as Lee ended with two for 24 off seven overs.

The fourth match is in Wellington on Tuesday.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

A.C. Gilchrist c Astle b Cairns 18

S.M. Katich lbw b Vettori 58

R.T. Ponting run out 11

D.R. Martyn lbw b Vettori 1

A. Symonds c Papps b Mills 21

M.J. Clarke not out 71

M.E.K. Hussey not out 65

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-7, NB-10) 19

TOTAL (for five wkts, 50 overs) 264

FALL OF WKTS: 1-68, 2-85, 3-90, 4-117, 5-128.

DID NOT BAT: G.B. Hogg, B. Lee, J.N. Gillespie, M.S. Kasprowicz.

BOWLING: Tuffey 2-0-25-0 (5nb, 4w); Mills 9-0-57-1 (4nb, 1w); Cairns 10-1-55-1 (2w); Astle 9-0-47-0; Vettori 10-0-31-2 (1nb); McMillan 10-0-47-0.

NEW ZEALAND:

S.P. Fleming b Lee 1

N.J. Astle c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 27

M.H.W. Papps retired hurt 3

H.J.H. Marshall run out 55

C.D. McMillan c Hussey b Symonds 26

J.A.H. Marshall run out 14

C.L. Cairns c Hussey b Lee 12

B.B. McCullum c Hussey b Hogg 23

D.L. Vettori c Gilchrist b Hogg 0

K.D. Mills c Kasprowicz b Hogg 1

D.R. Tuffey not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-8, W-4, NB-3) 15

TOTAL (all out, 41.5 overs) 177

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-45, 3-114, 4-135, 5-136, 6-161, 7-162, 8-171, 9-177.

BOWLING: Lee 7-0-24-2 (3nb, 3w); Gillespie 6-0-14-0 (1w); Kasprowicz 8-1-28-1; Symonds 10-1-36-1; Hussey 3-0-22-0; Hogg 7.5-0-45-3.

UMPIRES: D.B. Cowie (New Zealand) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: A.L. Hill (New Zealand).

MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Michael Clarke.

NEXT MATCH: Wellington, March 1.

-Agencies