Australia beat New Zealand in the third ODI of the five match series to take a 2-1 lead in the series. The game was played at the Seddon Park in Hamilton and saw the Aussies winning by six wickets and with almost three overs to spare. 
Batting first after being put in, the Kiwis got a decent start from Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor after the early loss of Peter Ingram. However, once the wickets began to fall, they fell in a heap and the Kiwis were 146/5 in the 30th over when Taylor was dismissed for a well-compiled 62. 
At this stage, the match fluctuated again in the favour of the Kiwis as they forged ahead with a nice little stand between Scot Styris and Gareth Hopkins, both of whom have exhibited enough form in this series so far to merit a promotion. At 213/5 in the 42nd over, the Kiwis had a reasonable chance of getting up to 275 if not a 300.
Shane Watson stuck at this stage with the wicket of Styris and it went all downhill for the Kiwis from there. Daniel Vettori was run-out in the very next over and despite Hopkins’ attempts at making the score, the Kiwis were shot out for 245 with 16 balls to spare!
In reply, Watson departed early enough to give the Kiwis some hope; especially since the run-rate at that stage was not looking great for the Aussies. However, from 25/1 in eighth over, the duo of Brad Haddin and Ricky Ponting added 151 runs for the second wicket and brought the Aussies closer to the win.
Michael Mason, who had been brought into the side, thanks to the injuries to the main bowlers looked woeful with his line and length and was taken apart by both the batsmen. He went for 34 in his first three overs, and 16 in his next two and by the time he had scalped the wicket of Ricky Ponting, the match was almost in their bag.
Haddin went on to complete his century and while he was dismissed for 110 by Vettori, Cameron White and Adam Voges saw the side home. Haddin won the man of the match award for his century.