Australia takes series

Australia wrapped up the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy for another year with a game up its sleeve after beating New Zealand in the fourth match of the series by six wickets at Eden Park in Auckland.

In a rain-reduced rain chase, Australia scored 202-4 in reply to New Zealand's inadequate 238 in 44.1 overs with Cameron White unbeaten on 50 from 57 balls and Michael Hussey 28 not out from 17 balls.

Australia's effort was a true team effort in which it refused to be put under pressure by the New Zealanders and it maintained its convincing superiority with both ball and bat.

After its chase was delayed by mid-match rain the pent-up crowd of 11,265 which had missed 90 minutes of play as the match was first reduced to 36 overs, and then 34, bayed for blood as Shane Bond set the innings in motion.

And it wasn't long before he produced the required effect having Brad Haddin caught at second slip by Scott Styris for a duck.

But instead of providing some incentive for New Zealand, it merely let Ricky Ponting loose and he was quickly into the action pulling and driving with potent effect. Tim Southee and Daryl Tuffey came in for some heavy treatment going for 29 and 31 runs respectively in their first three overs.

Tuffey was unlucky not to have Ponting leg before wicket when he had scored 16 but that was a rare slip on Ponting's part as he saw the 50 up in the ninth over and then raced on to his own half-century off34 balls with eight fours and a six.

However, Daniel Vettori's arrival at the bowling crease had an immediate effect as he started with a maiden over and then in his second he trapped Shane Watson lbw for 32 off 41 balls. Then with the first ball of his third over he trapped Ponting lbw for 50 leaving Australia 85-3.

With time on their side and a rare chance for time in the middle, Cameron White and Adam Voges worked their way out of any possibly hiccups, added 65 runs in workmanlike style and took away any hope New Zealand had of an upset.

That was until Voges on 34 attempted to turn a ball from James Franklin which saw Vettori diving forward at mid-on to take the catch with Australia 150-4. Bond with 1-28 from six overs and Vettori 2-29 from seven overs were again the pick of the New Zealand attack.

Australia's bowling, put to the test during an initial assault, came back strongly as New Zealand again failed to bat its 50 overs.

New Zealand, asked to bat first, was dismissed for 238 in 44.1 overs.

It was the slower bowlers who had most effect with medium-pacer James hopes taking 2-38 from 10 overs while Nathan Hauritz, until Daryl Tuffey took three successive sixes from him, ended with 3-46 from eight overs.

Mitchell Johnson again backed their efforts to end with 2-40 from 8.1 overs.

No indication of what lay in store from the New Zealand batting was obvious as Brendon McCullum (61 from 75 balls) and Martin Guptill (30 from 22) put on 63 runs in 7.4 overs before Guptill fell.

The pair, opening again after Peter Ingram was dropped, hammered Doug Bollinger for 30 runs in his first three overs and Ryan Harris for 20 from his first three.

Harris came