HAMILTON: Australia’s World Cup preparation collapsed into chaos today when New Zealand scored 350 for nine to win the third Chappell-Hadlee limited-overs cricket match by one wicket and the series 3-0. Matthew Hayden made 181 not out, the highest score by an Australian batsman in one-day internationals, as Australia made 346 for five batting first. But New Zealand lifted itself from 41 for four to reach the target with three balls remaining. Hayden batted for most of his unbeaten innings with a broken toe which added him to a growing Australian injury list ahead of the World Cup which already includes Brett Lee (sprained ankle), Andrew Symonds (torn bicep) and Michael Clarke (injured hip). Hayden reached the eighth-highest total by an individual batsman in limited-overs internationals with 11 fours and 10 sixes but his effort was trumped by Craig McMillan, who scored a century from 67 balls, the fastest by a New Zealander in one-day internationals. Australia has now been beaten twice by England in the finals of its own tri-series and three times by New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee series: by 10 wickets, five wickets and one wicket today. The 10-wicket loss was the heaviest in Australia’s limited-overs history and New Zealand’s last two wins involved two of the four largest successful run chases in one-day internationals, all of which Australia has lost. Australia lost to South Africa in Johannesburg last year after scoring 434 for four -then the highest total in the history of limited-overs cricket -and have since lost three times to New Zealand after scoring more than 330.

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