Kiwis run-chase has Kangaroos hopping

Welligton: All rounder Scott Styris scored 101 in New Zealand's world record run chase of 332 for eight to beat Australia by two wickets in the final one-day match in Christchurch on Saturday.

Chasing Australia's 331 for seven after Mike Hussey smashed 88 not out off 56 balls in the closing overs of their innings, Styris anchored New Zealand's successful chase in 49 overs with 101 off 96 balls.

The previous highest successful run chase was the 330 for seven Australia scored against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in April 2002.

It was the second successive match that Australia had set a total above 300 for New Zealand to try to win the game.

New Zealand made 320 all out chasing Australia's 322 for five in Wellington on Wednesday.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum smashed 50 not out off 25 balls and Daniel Vettori scored 23 off 12 balls in a 74-run partnership in six overs at the death to give New Zealand the surprise victory.

All rounder Jacob Oram (42) and Lou Vincent (39) also gave the New Zealand side impetus.

While New Zealand's run chase in the past two matches has been spectacular, their bowling during the final 10 overs has been lacking in bite. They conceded 118 runs in Wellington on Wednesday and 125 on Saturday in Christchurch.

Stephen Fleming (nought), Nathan Astle (14) Chris Cairns (six) and Oram were all dismissed chasing wide deliveries or from poor shot selection.

Fleming, who was the super-sub, was out for a duck when he chased a wide Nathan Bracken delivery while Cairns chased a wide delivery off Mick Lewis and nicked a catch to Gilchrist to leave his side struggling at 194 for six.

Oram also dragged a wide full toss on to his stumps just when he was starting to look ominous.

Australia had solid contributions throughout the middle order though it was Hussey who turned the innings.

His intelligent placement and lusty blows in combination with Michael Clarke (71) and with Nathan Bracken (21 not out) helped the world champions plunder 125 runs off the final 10 overs.

Hussey, who has been dismissed just four times in his 16 innings in 21 games, now has an average of 151. His previous high score was 84.

Captain Ricky Ponting had earlier scored 75 and combined with Brad Hodge (59) in a 115-run third wicket partnership to resurrect Australia's innings after they had slumped to 7-2.

Australia had already won the series after victories in Auckland and Wellington.