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Australia beat New Zealand by 48 runs in one-dayer

Australia beat New Zealand by 48 runs in the fourth one-day cricket international at Jade Stadium here Saturday.

Australia amassed their highest ever one-day total of 349 for six off their 50 overs and in reply New Zealand were 301 for nine off their 50 overs.

Australia win the series 3-0 with the opening match declared a no result after rain. There are two matches left to play.

Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist smashed one of the great one-day innings as Australia crushed New Zealand in the fourth one-day cricket international here Saturday.

Gilchrist clubbed nine fours and seven sixes in a blistering display of clean hitting in his 128 off 98 balls as Australia amassed their highest score in one-day cricket with 349 for six.

Australia surpassed their previous highest score of 337 for seven against Pakistan in last month's triangular series final in Sydney.

It was mission impossible for the Kiwis, who batting under lights still compiled 301 for nine off their 50 overs to go down by 48 runs.

Australia have now passed 300 in their last three completed 50-over innings. Steve Waugh's Australians have wrapped up the series 3-0 after winning by five wickets in Auckland and 50 runs in Dunedin. The first international was declared a no-result after rain. There are two more matches to play before a three-Test series. The win stretched Australia's unbeaten streak to a record 13 matches, eclipsing the mark set by Graham Gooch's 1991-92 England team.

The rampant Australians hit a world record 15 sixes off the hapless Kiwi attack. Gilchrist reached his century from just 78 balls - the 15th fastest in one-day history and equal to Allan Border's Australian record set 15 seasons ago against Sri Lanka.

Gilchrist looked set to exceed his highest one-day score of 154 when he spooned back a chance to bowler Chris Harris to leave Australia 189 for one.

Mark Waugh hit 70 off 88 balls and skipper Steve Waugh slammed five sixes in his pugnacious knock of 54 off 44 balls.

It was the second time in the series that the Kiwi attack had been plundered for 300-plus runs and all their bowlers took a hiding. Strike bowler Chris Cairns went wicketless for 76 off 10 overs, while spinner Daniel Vettori (2-71) and Harris (2-58) were the leading wicket-takers.

New Zealand went down fighting, compiling their highest one-day total against Australia, but it was still a long way short of victory on a benign batting strip. The outgunned Kiwis threw everything into the run chase, racing to 151 for two from 25 overs as captain Stephen Fleming (82 from 88 balls) and Nathan Astle (45 from 45) combined for a century stand for the second wicket.

But legspinner Shane Warne (3-50) dismissed both batsmen as Australia tightened the screws. Swing bowler Damien Fleming (3-58), handed more responsibility with bowling spearhead Glenn McGrath rested, then took two wickets in one over to virtually end New Zealand's tilt against history for victory. Chris Harris remained unbeaten on 59 off 52 balls.

Teams: Australia - Steve Waugh (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Shane Lee, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Brett Lee, Matthew Hayden (12th man).

New Zealand - Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Warren Wisneski, Robert Kennedy (12th man).