NZ thumps Australia to win Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

On the back of Ross Taylor's record equaling 16th ODI hundred for NZ followed by Trent Boult's career best figures of 6/33 saw a depleted Australia lost the three match series and with that the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 2-0 after NZ batted first like the first match of the series. The difference though was that this time the home team had won the toss.

They showed that it was the correct decision as the veteran Ross Taylor scored a century equaling the record for most centuries ODIs by a New Zealand player along side Nathan Astle to help the hosts post a challenging score of 281. Taylor also equaled AB de Villiers' record for most ODI centuries (14) batting at #4.  

NZ sealed their eight consecutive ODI series win at home  © Getty Images 

Despite losing two quick wickets, the visitors looked set to reach the target until NZ captain had his rival Aaron Finch caught at deep mid wicket. New Zealand kept the Australian batsmen under pressure by taking wickets at regular intervals. Man of the match Boult's inspired bowling meant Australia were given no room to try and get a sniff of the win. It was just a formality when Marcus Stoinis who nearly won his team the match of the series in the first match with a magnificent 146 holed out to long on in the 40th over.

Australia in the absence of two of their best batsmen -skipper Steve Smith and opener David Warner- lost eventually the match and the series after NZ won the first match in Hamilton by 24 runs while the second match of the three match series was called off due to damp outfield in Napier after the umpires deemed it was unfit for play.

This was the seven consecutive loss for Australia in away matches in ODIs. They had lost all 5 matches of the ODI series during their tour of South Africa in September-October 2016. It was also the eight consecutive ODI series win at home for New Zealand. They have won 19 and lost just 4 matches in the last eight ODI series they have played. They now sit on the second position with most consecutive ODI series wins at home tied with West Indies who managed to get the feat between 4th February 1981 and 3rd April 1990. The record of most consecutive ODI series wins at home is held by South Africa who won 17 ODI series hosted by them between October 2002 to November 2009. 

Following the series win, New Zealand have moved up to third place in the latest ICC Team Rankings for One-Day Internationals  swapping places with India, who are now placed fourth in the rankings while Australia managed to cling on to the top spot finishing narrowly ahead of South Africa with decimal points difference in the rankings.