Cricket: Black Caps' fight back falls just short

FINAL SCORE - NZ 244 all out, chasing 262 

Australia levelled the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day series as New Zealand's chase for a record 262-run victory target ultimately failed at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Kyle Mills hit four consecutive sixes late in the game to give the Black Caps some hope, needing 31 from the last five overs.

Daniel Vettori was then run out to force an injured Chris Harris to bat. When McGrath bowled him with a yorker, it secured victory for Australia and set up a series decider on Friday.

New Zealand had been 98 for six after 25 overs, their hopes resting on some power hitting from Chris Cairns and game one match-winner Brendon McCullum. 

Cairns was out skying one shortly after reaching his 50.

Replicating Australia's middle order collapse, the Black Caps crumbled to lose five for 21 and slump to six for 84, leaving Cairns (9) and McCullum (4) with a mountain to climb.

Needing to score more than five an over from the outset, New Zealand were unable to force the pace on a wicket that traditionally slows as the match progresses.

Opener Nathan Astle was an early casualty when the score was 27 but the Black Caps were in touch until Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris and captain Stephen Fleming were dismissed for the addition of just 15 runs.

Fleming and Mathew Sinclair posted the New Zealand 50 in the 11th over but added only 13 more before the economical Jason Gillespie was rewarded when Matthew Hayden took an acrobatic catch at first slip.

Replicating Australia's middle order staggers, Sinclair's departure for 17 triggered a flurry of wickets.

Styris' sub-par tour continued when he was out for five, unlucky to be given out leg before wicket to Andrew Symonds.

However, there was little doubt spinner Brad Hogg's first ball of the match was stumps-bound when it thudded into Fleming's pad to leave New Zealand in the mire at 78 for four.

Hogg struck again in the same manner in his next over when Jacob Oram was caught on the crease for two.

Sensing a quick kill, Australian captain Ricky Ponting summoned Brett Lee back for his second spell.

He struck with his first ball, sheer pace beating Hamish Marshall (9) whose off stump was bent back.

Lee had earlier claimed the first wicket to fall when Astle wafted a lifting delivery into the safe gloves of Adam Gilchrist for 11.

Once the innings reached the 25-over mark the Duckworth-Lewis system came into play in event of predicted rain but New Zealand were well behind the required score.

The highest successful run chase at the SCG was England's 234 for seven in 1986-87.

- NZPA, HERALD STAFF