Australia ease to Wellington win

Fourth one-day international, Wellington:
Australia 236-3 bt New Zealand 233 by seven wickets

Match scorecard

Andy Symonds and Damien Martyn celebrate a wicket in Wellington

Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn struck half centuries as Australia crushed New Zealand by seven wickets in Wellington to go 4-0 up in the one-day series.

Gilchrist smashed 54 off 37 balls before Martyn (65 not out) and Andy Symonds (48) saw them reach a target of 234 with almost 16 overs left.

Earlier, New Zealand's innings fell away after Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle put on 84 for the first wicket.

Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie all took two wickets each.

Australia, captained by Gilchrist in Ricky Ponting's absence through a leg injury, left out Brad Hogg and brought back McGrath, while James Hopes made his debut.

New Zealand made three changes, bringing in Craig Cumming, Lance Hamilton and Jeff Wilson for Michael Papps, the out-of-form Daryl Tuffey and spinner Daniel Vettori, who was rested with a sore back.

Skipper Fleming, who was hit on the arm by Lee early on, and fellow opener Astle set about the Australian bowlers with some relish, racing along at five an over.

But, after hooking Gillespie for six, Fleming was caught off the paceman at mid-on by Lee and Astle edged behind off Michael Kasprowicz.

It was a great team effort Adam Gilchrist More reaction

After that, the run rate slowed and although Chris Cairns hit two sixes in his breezy 36, none of the remaining batsmen could go on to post the big score needed.

Gilchrist and Simon Katich launched the reply at a furious pace as the tourists racked up 78 off 10 overs, before Cairns had Katich caught behind.

Martyn then helped continue the assault, wih debutant Lance Hamilton and former All Black Jeff Wilson coming in for some fearful punishment.

After Gilchrist departed, having smashed eight fours and a six out of the ground, Symonds clubbed three sixes in his 37-ball onslaught as Australia continued to score at around seven an over.

Even his exit, to a fine catch from Wilson off Craig McMillan, could not slow the tempo and Martyn led the canter to a comprehensive victory.

New Zealand will be looking to lift morale and restore some pride in the final one-day match in Napier on Saturday.

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New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Craig Cumming, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jeff Wilson, Lance Hamilton.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pkn), Tony Hill (NZ).