AUSTRALIA wrapped up the second Test match against New Zealand shortly before lunch on the final day at Seddon Park in Hamilton to clean-sweep the series 2-0. Australia dismissed New Zealand in the final innings for 302 to claim a 176-run win with man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson (6-73) taking six wickets in the second innings for a total of 10 in the Test.
New Zealand had started the day still 293 runs behind and without much of a hope, but it was nevertheless a matter of pride for Brendon McCullum (51) and Martin Guptill (58) who both managed to secure half- centuries.
In the end the New Zealand tail was never going to be strong enough to withstand the Australian attack, but the home side was by no means shamed in the match and bounced back well after a big 10-wicket loss in Wellington the week before.
The win tops off a near-perfect Test cricket summer for Australia and has exposed the potential of some exciting players including bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris who stepped-up brilliantly during the series.
On the final morning, McCullum brought up a fighting half-century off 93 balls, hitting nine fours and one six, but his stubborn innings came to a close when he was caught by Mike Hussey off Bollinger.
Guptill soon followed suit and reached his half-ton but Johnson spelled the end of him when he found an edge that sailed through to Ricky Ponting on 58.
Tim Southee was having a great time smashing Bollinger around and was closing in on the fastest ever Test match 50 but was running out of support when Brent Arnel was dismissed by Johnson for a duck.
Chris Martin, arguably the worst batsman in international cricket, gave the crowd something to cheer about when he executed a perfect cover drive off Johnson to get off the mark.
But Southee fell just short of his half-century when he was caught by Michael Clarke on 45, handing Johnson his sixth wicket of the innings and spelling the end of the match. Australia set up the victory with a massive total of 511 for eight in their second dig before declaring at lunch on the fourth day. (Eurosport)

AUSTRALIA first innings 231 (S. Katich 88. D. Vettori 4-36, T. Southee 4-61)
New Zealand first innings 264 (R. Taylor 138, M. Johnson 4-56)
Australia second innings 511 for 8: S.Katich 106, M. North 90
NEW ZEALAND second innings o/n 185 for 5
B. Watling c (wkp.) Haddin b Johnson    24
T. McIntosh b Johnson    19
M. Sinclair lbw b Clarke    29
R. Taylor c Haddin b Johnson    22
M. Guptill c Ponting b Johnson     58
D. Vettori lbw b Hauritz    22
B. McCullum  c Hussey b Bollinger    51
J. Patel c North b Bollinger    3
T. Southee c Clarke b Johnson    45
B. Arnel c Haddin b Johnson    0
C. Martin not out    5
Extras: (b-12, lb-10, nb-2)    24
Total: (all out, 91.1 overs)    302
Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-53, 3-107, 4-119, 5-152, 6-239, 7-249, 8-273, 9-295.
Bowling: D. Bollinger 16-2-87-2 (nb-1), R. Harris 14-3-38-0, S. Watson 6-2-18-0, M. Johnson 20.1-6-73-6, M. Clarke 16-4-27-1, N. Hauritz 17-5-37-1, M. North 2-2-0-0.