Australia Cricket / Editor / 20 February 2007 /

Matthew Hayden hit an unbeaten 181 for Australia but broke his toe in the process as New Zealand completed a 3-0 series whitewash over the Aussies.

Having already taken the Chapple-Hadlee Trophy 2-0, the Black Caps were looking to inflict a fifth successive defeat on the world champions, after England's recent 2-0 success in the Commonwealth Bank series finals, and scraped home by one wicket in a pulsating encounter in Hamilton.

The visitors began as though they meant business and put on 122 for the first wicket before Shane Watson fell for a rapid 68. Brad Haddin made 38 but it was Hayden, whose one-day place had been in doubt until a recent upturn in form, who dominated the innings with 11 fours and 10 sixes in his 166-ball knock - the highest ever score by an Australian in the shorter version of the game.

Australia's total of 346-5 from 50 overs looked formidable, and when New Zealand slipped to 41-4 in reply it seemed as though stand-in skipper Mike Hussey was set to guide the Aussies back to winning ways.

However Craig McMillan hit a whirlwind 117, including 13 fours and five sixes, and shared a sixth-wicket stand of 165 with Brendon McCullum, who finished unbeaten on 86. Peter Fulton also chipped in with 51 from just 40 deliveries, smashing three sixes and six fours.

The match ebbed and flowed towards the climax and McMillan's dismissal made Hussey's men favourites, but McCullum received support down the order from Mark Gillespie (28) and they reached their target with three balls and one wicket to spare.

Watson suffered with the ball, conceding 88 runs from his ten overs while claiming two wickets and Mitchell Johnson fared little better - his three wickets costing 81 runs.

Hayden is now rated as doubtful for the World Cup after suffering a broken toe when hit by a Mark Gillespie yorker and he joins Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke as injury worries ahead of the Caribbean tournament.

Punters have responded to the downturn in Australia's fortunes and they are now on offer at 3.4 to win the World Cup, having been matched as low as 2.5.

South Africa, who have overtaken Ricky Ponting's men as the number one ranked one-day side, have now shortened to 5.8, after punters traded Graeme Smith's men to small stakes at 12.5.

The West Indies are available at 9.6, England have come into 10.5, while Sri Lanka and India both trade at 11.

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