New Zealand's chief bowler was humiliated, returning batsman hospitalised and its identical twins fell to carbon copy run outs as Australia scored a series-clinching one-day win at Eden Park.

The world champions took an unassailable 3-0 series lead and ended a six-series NZ home streak with a 87-run win by bundling the Black Caps out for 177 in the 42nd over.

In a game that featured more than its share of cricketing oddities, the NZ torment started with opening bowler Daryl Tuffey conceding 15 runs before bowling his second legal delivery.

It then finished with a bit of spite when Brett Lee hit Brendon McCullum on the glove with a ferocious beam ball in the penultimate over.

McCullum abused the apologetic Lee (2-24 off seven overs) before Australian captain Ricky Ponting smoothed over relations.

Defending 5-264 after Michael Clarke (71 off 75) and Mike Hussey (65 from 73) shared a record unbeaten sixth-wicket stand of 136 following a 5-40 collapse, Australia had also got a quick jump in the Black Caps innings.

Lee maintained his stranglehold on skipper Stephen Fleming, who has scored only six runs in three innings, by having him playing on in the third over for one.

Bowling at a lethal 153kph pace, the blond spearhead then hit a ducking Michael Papps on the shoulder in a blow that softened him up for worse to come.

In his next over the diminutive Papps, in his first one-day international in 12 months, appeared like a bunny in the flashlights as a Lee bouncer zeroed in on his helmet.

It rocked him back and left an egg-shaped bulge on the side of his forehead.

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