CHRISTCHURCH, Feb 22: Australian opener Matthew Hayden returned to his majestic best with a superb century as the world champions trounced New Zealand by 106 runs in the second One-day International on Tuesday.

After being sent in to bat on a placid Jade Stadium pitch, Hayden lashed 114 off 124 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes, as Australia cruised to 314 for six in their 50 overs and then humbled New Zealand for 208 with nine overs to spare.

Daniel Vettori staged a courageous resistance for New Zealand top scoring with 83 to equal the world record one-day score for a No 8 batsman, but his solo heroics were never going to be enough.

The win highlighted the stark difference between the first and second ranked one-day teams in the world. Two big partnerships involving Hayden set up Australia's massive total, 99 for the second wicket with Ricky Ponting who scored 53, and 133 for the third wicket with Damien Martyn who made 58.

New Zealand's rare high point was when they took three for 22 in three overs to reduce the tourists from 232 for two to 254 for five. New Zealand started so well on the best batting surface in the country, with danger man Adam Gilchrist caught behind down the leg-side without scoring off Daryl Tuffey's second ball.

But it was all Australia from there. Ponting continued his hot run of form with 53 off 57 balls, including six fours and two sixes, before he was run out by a brilliant direct hit from Hamish Marshall at cover.

Martyn scored 58 off 70 before another top piece of fielding by Craig McMillan at long on saw a direct hit at the bowler's end. Hayden's fifth One-day International century finally ended in the 42nd over when former New Zealand rugby international Jeff Wilson took his first of two catches off Kyle Mills on the deep square-leg boundary.

But, Wilson's return to One-day International bowling was not one for him to remember as he went for none for 54 off six overs. New Zealand's pace men were largely cannon fodder, with Tuffey taking one for 73 off eight overs, and Chris Cairns one for 62 off 10.

Spinner Vettori was again the pick with none for 31 off 10 while Mills had the most success with two for 62 off 10. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming sent Australia in and must have wished he hadn't before the 15th over, when Australia reached 96.

In comparison New Zealand were five for 71 at the same mark with Fleming out for one and the rest of his top order following in quick succession, all caught behind by Gilchrist.

If the New Zealand game plan singled out one Australian bowler to attack it would have been Andrew Symonds, but he finished his first over with two wickets claiming the big hitting Craig McMillan (12) and Chris Cairns (22).

He later added the scalp of McCullum to have New Zealand at seven for 135 before Wilson helped bring some respectability to the New Zealand total by scoring 22 in a 62-run partnership with Vettori.

SCOREBOARD