Auckland, February 18:

Australia were knocked from the world number one spot on Sunday when New Zealand smashed a colossal 337-5 to win their one-day cricket international here and clinch the best-of-three series.

Australia set a target of 336, but Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton and Craig McMillan belted New Zealand to victory with an over to spare. They now hold an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.

It was Australia’s fourth successive loss and second successive series defeat as the reigning world champions continue to struggle in a drastic form slump a month out from the World Cup. South Africa now take over as the number one ranked team.

Stung by their 10-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first match on Friday, Australia scored at will from all the New Zealand bowlers with the exception of Shane Bond. Their 336-4 was a record score on the Eden Park pitch, easily eclipsing New Zealand’s 304-5 against Sri Lanka 24 years ago.

But it was a short-lived record as Taylor’s 117 and an unbeaten 76 runs from Fulton provided the backbone of the New Zealand

innings, before a quick-fire 52 in 30 balls from McMillan provided the final impetus.

New Zealand’s run chase started shakily when captain Stephen Fleming (6) fell to Nathan Bracken in the third over. Fellow opener Lou Vincent saw his luck desert him in the eighth over, also to Bracken and New Zealand were in trouble at 47-2. Taylor and Scott Styris (17) brought up the century but Styris never looked comfortable and when he went in the 20th New Zealand appeared to be in trouble at 113-3.

However, the arrival of Fulton was the start of New Zealand’s fightback. Fulton set about backing up Taylor and they put on 115 for the fourth wicket before Taylor top-edged Watson to Hussey at midwicket. Fulton scored 76 off 65 balls that included five fours and two sixes. McMillan blazed away with seven fours and two sixes in his 52. The result was a drastic swing of fortune for the Australians after the morale-boosting innings from Hussey and an unbeaten 97 from Brad Hodge. The final match is slated for Tuesday.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA

M Hayden c Vettori b Gillepsie 24

P Jaques c Fleming b Bond 3

B Haddin c & b Vettori 49

M Hussey c Taylor b McMillan 105

B Hodge not out 97

C White not out 42

Extras: 16 (1b, 5lb, 8w, 2nb)

Total: 336/4 (50 overs)

FoW: 1-26, 2-52, 3-132, 4-252

New Zealand bowling: Tuffey 10-0-80-0, Bond 9-4-39-1, Gillespie 10-2-57-1, Vettori 10-0-52-1, Styris 4-0-35-0, McMillan 5-0-45-1, Vincent 2-0-22-0

NEW ZEALAND

L Vincent c Jaques b Bracken 26

S Fleming c Haddin b Bracken 6

R Taylor c Hussey b Watson 117

S Styris c Hussey b Watson 17

P Fulton not out 76

C McMillan c Hussey b Watson 52

B McCullum not out 19

Extras: 24 (1b,11lb,10w,2nb)

Total: 337/5 (48.4 overs)

FoW: 1-9, 2-47, 3-113, 4-228, 5-313

Australia bowling: Bracken 10-1-66-2,

McGrath 9.4-0-50-0, Tait 9-0-64-0, Watson 10-0-58-3, Hogg 7-0-58-0, White 3-0-29-0