By IANS
Hobart : Australia outclassed New Zealand to regain the Chappell-Hadlee one-day trophy, winning the third and last game at Bellerive Oval by 114 runs to wrap up the series 2-0 here Thursday.
New Zealand, who had completely outplayed the Australians to wrest the trophy by winning the series 3-0 earlier this year at home, had to win Thursday’s match to keep the cup. But the visitors were dismissed for 168 in 34 overs in reply to Australia’s 282 for six from 50 overs.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting was named Man of the Match and the Series as well. He scored a superb unbeaten 134 from 133 balls Thursday following up his unbeaten 107 in the first match. The second match at Adelaide was washed out.
The only New Zealand batsmen to offer some resistance were Scott Styris (75) and tail-ender Mark Gillespie (24). Their ninth-wicket stand of 40 from 28 balls was the best of the innings.
Brett Lee, who took three for 47, bowled Styris and left-arm spinner Brad Hogg claimed his third wicket when he had Gillespie caught at mid-wicket to end the match.
But Hogg had an average bowling figures as he tried to force his way into the Boxing Day (Dec 26) Test side. His six overs cost him 49 runs.
Earlier, New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram conceded only five runs from his first five overs to give Australia early trouble.
His opening spell of eight overs had two wickets for 18 and he finished with two for 34 from his 10.
Australia were in trouble at 87 for three in the 20th over, but that brought together Ponting and Andrew Symonds and the pair put on 114 for the fourth wicket to first steady the innings and then effectively take the match away from New Zealand.
Symonds made 52 before Kyle Mills trapped him leg before the wicket, one ball after reaching his half-century with a boundary.
Ponting, who gave a half-chance on 25 when a shot off his toes landed just short of mid-wicket, was in great form and hit 10 fours and two sixes in his knock.