Melbourne: Michael Clarke's 98 could not stop his unthinkable series loss from coming a step closer after Grant Elliott kept a cool head to complete a six-wicket victory for New Zealand, who were solid without being spectacular. Despite making hard work of a less than imposing chase of 226, New Zealand got home with seven balls to spare to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

226 was a competitive target on a slow pitch but New Zealand paced their innings brilliantly. They started patiently and McCullum was involved in two 40-plus partnerships with Fulton and Taylor to ensure his team didn;t lose early wickets. Taylor then added 72 with Elliot, but despite his dismissal, New Zealand were always in the hunt. Warner gave good support to Elliot, who made an unbeaten 61, and helped see his team through to a victory and a 2-0 lead.

Michael Clarke is the Man of the Match for his 98.
 
Earlier, Vettori won the toss and calls Australia for bats. Australian stand-in skipper Michael Clarke fell just short of a century in the one-day match against New Zealand on Friday as the home side set a target of 226

Clarke (98 off 133 balls) and Michael Hussey (75 off 94) combined for a 133-run fourth-wicket partnership to guide Australia to 5-225 after being sent in to bat.

The side's two senior batsmen - in the absence of resting skipper Ricky Ponting - came together with their team struggling at 3-63 in the 18th over and showed patience and poise to rebuild the innings.

It was an impressive response from Clarke, who entered the match under pressure in various forms, having taken over from Ponting with Australia on a four-match losing streak.

He had the added responsibility of opening the innings in the absence of the injured Shaun Marsh.

Aussies wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, elevated to No.3, was booed to the crease by a large Kiwi contingent in the crowd following his role in a controversial dismissal in Sunday's series opener in Perth.

It was not long before the same section of fans were cheering derisively as he left the field, out for 12 to a bottom-edged cut shot in the 10th over.

The next batsman out, David Hussey (10), had only himself to blame, attempting an unlikely single after hitting straight to NZ captain Daniel Vettori at mid-off, with Vettori's direct hit sealing his fate.

Brief Score: New Zealand 226/4 (Elliott 61*) beat Australia 225/5 (Clarke 98, M Hussey 75) by six wickets.