Cricket: Lee does damage again as Australia win series

Australian speedster Brett Lee terrorised New Zealand's batsmen yet again as the tourists wrapped up the one-day cricket series with two matches to spare here tonight.

Lee took the key wickets of Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns, and hospitalised recalled batsman Michael Papps as Australia won the third one-day international by 87 runs at Eden Park.

It was Australia's 11th win from their last 12 matches against New Zealand.

Only Hamish Marshall offered any resistance with the top score of 55 off 87 balls as New Zealand were dismissed for 177 in the 42nd over.

The damage was done at the top for a third straight match as New Zealand pursued 265 to win after the two Michaels, Clarke and Hussey, boosted Australia's total with a slick unbroken sixth wicket stand of 136 off 134 balls.

Lee, who regularly topped 150km/h, 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, on three, 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. James Marshall 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.

Earlier, Clarke and posted a sixth wicket partnership record after the tourists were struggling at 128 for five, having opted to bat first.

Clarke, after scores of nought and 23, notched 71 not out off 75 balls while Hussey scored an unbeaten 65 off 73.

They plundered 56 off the last five overs.

Australia made a flyer courtesy of a horror start by New Zealand paceman Daryl Tuffey, who opened with a 14-ball over to Gilchrist including four no-balls and four wides. He ended with none for 25 off two overs.

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

He took two for 31 off 10 overs, including the lbw wickets of Katich and Damien Martyn for one, and with medium pacers Astle and McMillan put the brakes on.

Australia went from 68 without loss to 128 for five in the space of 13 overs.

Fleming conceded his team had no answer to Australia.

"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."

Fleming said Papps appeared unaffected when he left the field but developed a golf ball sized lump on his temple, "went downhill pretty fast" and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

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."

The fourth match is in Wellington on Tuesday.

* Scoreboard from the third one-day cricket international between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park tonight.

Australia

A Gilchrist c Astle b Cairns 18
S Katich lbw b Vettori 58
R Ponting run out 11
D Martyn lbw b Vettori 1
A Symonds c Papps b Mills 21
M Clarke not out 71
M Hussey not out 65
Extras (2lb, 7w, 10nb) 19
--Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 264
Fall: 68 (Gilchrist), 85 (Ponting), 90 (Martyn), 117 (Symonds), 128 (Katich).

Bowling: D Tuffey 2-0-25-0 (5nb, 4w), K Mills 9-0-57-1 (4nb, 1w), C Cairns 10-1-55-1 (2w), N Astle 9-0-47-0, D Vettori 10-0-31-2 (1nb), C McMillan 10-0-47-0.

New Zealand

S Fleming b Lee 1
N Astle c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 27
M Papps retired hurt 3
H Marshall run out 55
C McMillan c Hussey b Symonds 26
J Marshall run out 14
C Cairns c Hussey b Lee 12
B McCullum c Hussey b Hogg 23
D Vettori c Gilchrist b Hogg 0
K Mills c Kasprowicz b Hogg 1
D Tuffey not out 0
Extras (8lb, 3nb, 4w) 15
--Total (41.5 overs) 177
Fall: 7 (Fleming), 45 (Astle), 114 (McMillan), 135 (J Marshall), 136 (H Marshall), 161 (Cairns), 162 (Vettori), 171 (Mills), 177 (McCullum).

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

Australia won by 87 runs, lead five-match series 3-0.

Man of the match: Michael Clarke.


- NZPA