Haddin helps Australia post a huge total against Kiwis

Sydney, Feb.8 (ANI): Australian wicket-keeper batsman Brad Haddin on Sunday helped his team to a commanding score of 301 for nine against New Zealand in the third of five one-day internationals for the Chappell-Hadlee trophy here.

Shifted to opener, Haddin took out his frustration on the hapless Kiwi attack by posting his first one-day international hundred.

With Australia staring at a series defeat at 2-0 down in the five-game series, Haddin's (109 off 114 balls) knock in his 41st outing was just the tonic for the ailing side, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

It also would have had Indian Premier League franchise bosses scratching their heads for not picking him up at Friday's player auction in Goa.

The SCG knock was the gloveman's second outstanding innings against the Black Caps this season, his 169 in the Test in Adelaide having silenced any mutterings about his spot in the national side.

Haddin and Michael Clarke (64 off 69 balls) put down Australia's best foundation of the summer before Mike Hussey (51 off 32 balls) rounded out the team's highest total.

No side has scored more than 270 in a successful run chase at a one-day international in Sydney.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori put Australia in with the home side shuffling the order after Ricky Ponting came in for misfiring opener David Warner.

Haddin and Clarke started the innings in a respectful manner, Australia's fourth different opening combination of the summer compiling just six runs in four overs before igniting the innings by taking 14 runs off a Kyle Mills' over.

The NSW pair steadily ramped up the aggression, putting on 135 by the 24th over before Clarke departed trying to smash medium-pacer Grant Elliott through cover.

Haddin was handed a life on 76 off Elliott's bowling with the lanky Fulton spilling a straight-forward catch in the deep.

But Elliott continued to trouble the Australians by removing Ponting (16), the skipper not making a big impact in his early return from holiday.

The Black Caps made the most of the second new ball with Iain O'Brien having David Hussey (7) caught behind before Haddin exuberantly celebrated his ton.

Haddin was the first Australian to make three figures in a one-day international match in 13 encounters. (ANI)