All the hot discussion about the choice of pitch at the 'Gabba in Brisbane came to nought as incessant rain drew the curtains early on the third and final one day international between New Zealand and hosts Australia. Playing for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, the two teams were tied at one all. New Zealand were a pale shade in comparison with Australia during the two Test series but the one day matches proved a far closer contest between the Trans Tasmanian rivals.

Australia were dealt an embarrassing and ego bruising loss at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne as New Zealand romped home with two balls to spare. New Zealand dearly missed the services of Shane Bond but the return of Chris Cairns to the one day arena proved timely and decisive. Australia put into bat by Stephen Fleming were galloping along, riding on a blazing innings by Adam Gilchrist. Ian Butler and Kyle Mills struggled to rein in the Australian openers before Matthew Sinclair pulled off a scintillating catch off Jacob Oram to send back Matthew Hayden.

But it was Daniel Vettori and Chris Cairns, who in tandem with three wickets apiece, proved insurmountable hurdles as the duo eventually cause Australia to stumble and fall. Chris Cairns sneaked through Adam Gilchrist's defences after the latter struck a splendid sixty-four off just fifty-four balls that included nine boundaries. Daniel Vettori broke the back of the Australian middle order with the crucial wickets of Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn and Andrew Symonds as Australia seemed to stutter at five down for 123 as early as the twenty-third over after a rollicking start.

Darren Lehmann found Michael Clarke a steady partner as the duo set to redress the uncanny situation that Australia found themselves in. With Darren Lehmann's judicious half-century, they raised crucial seventy-one runs for the sixth wicket before Cairns struck again, this time knocking Clarke's leg stump, batting on thirty-six. That break in partnership was the final jolt in dashing Australia's hopes of scoring anywhere in the region of 300 runs which seemed a realistic possibility during Australia's promising beginning to the innings.

Brett Lee has spent much of the season warming the benches with the Australian selectors reposing faith in Michael Kasprowicz as playing second fiddle to the fast bowling pair of Glen McGrath and Jason Gillespie. With the hunting pair rested for this game, Brett Lee got his golden opportunity. Chasing Australia's target of 247, New Zealand were met with a 152 kph delivery that crashed into the skipper's pads. Stephen Fleming returned with a duck to match the naught for one score for his team in the very first over.

But Nathan Astle and Matthew Sinclair steadied the New Zealand with a 128 run partnership which though behind Australia's scorching scoring rate, set up a great charge for New Zealand. Matthew Sinclair inopportune run out for two short of a critical half-century by Andrew Symonds caused a few hiccups. Darren Lehmann accounted for Nathan Astle whose innings of seventy was of vital essence for New Zealand's success. He struck again to remove Scott Styris and leave New Zealand on the edge at 140 for the loss of four wickets.

There were small but supportive innings from Jacob Oram and Chris Cairns but it was the twenty-one ball thirty-nine run partnership between Hamish Marshall and Brendon McCullum that definitely swung the game New Zealand. Hamish Marshall came up trumps with a indispensable a-run-a-ball half-century. The forty-eight over bowled by Michael Kasprowicz sealed Australia's fate as he conceded twenty-two runs that included a couple of hits to the fence by McCullum, one from Marshall and a ball that ran away towards the New Zealand scorecard for five wides. The four wicket victory tasted ever so sweet for the team that looks beleaguered for much of the tour.

Sydney proved a more successful outing for the hosts. Matthew Hayden was reduced to a mere spectator at the other end of the twenty-two yard pitch as Adam gilchrist was once played a scorching innings as he trashed the New Zealand bowlers for some very expensive overs. Australia's solid start of eighty-six for the opening partnership was almost nullified when Australia lost wickets in a flurry as they approached the 150 mark at the twenty-five over mark with five wickets back in the pavilion. Andrew Symonds enjoyed duck for dinner for the second successive outing. But Darren Lehmann proved his worth with a half-century for a second time in a row. His vital partnership with Brad Hogg who scored an opportune forty-one resurrected the Australian offensive to set New Zealand a challenging target of 261 to win.

New Zealand was deprived of the stellar effort from Chris Harris, playing his 250th one day international. Harris dislocated his right shoulder while also, damaging his rotator cuff while fielding earlier in the day. There was no heroics from the top order apart from a brief rebuttal from Stephen Fleming as New Zealand collapsed to a cumbersome six down for eighty-six. Chris Cairns' sabbatical from Test cricket has done little to smother his blazing ways. He dispatched Brad Hogg and Lehmann for stinging sixes while cracking a half-century from just thirty-nine balls to keep New Zealand in the hunt. His mistimed knock and Brendon McCullum's dubious lbw, batting on twenty-one, made New Zealand's task stiffer. But the onslaught did not halt. Kyle Mills take the attack straight to the opposition while hammering four mighty sixes to take New Zealand within striking distance. But sadly for him and for New Zealand, he ran out of partners as Daniel Vettori was unfortunately run out batting on thirty-three by Ricky Ponting. Chris Harris, afflicted by his misfortunes earlier in the day, bravely strode in but survived only six balls before Glen McGrath struck the final blow.

New Zealand lost the second game by a meagre seventeen runs. But more importantly, Australia survived yet another glitch in the middle order and then, held their breath and calmed their jangling nerves to outlast a late burst from the New Zealand lower order to square the three match series at one all. With the game at the 'Gabba being a no show, the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee Trophy will now be evenly and rather aptly shared between the intense Trans Tasmanian rivals.