Australia no longer #1 after fourth straight loss

In the most troubling development of a troubling week, Australia's likely World Cup attack could not prevent New Zealand completing the second-highest run chase in limited-overs history yesterday, thus sealing a Chappell-Hadlee series defeat and, worse, the surrendering of the No.1 ranking to South Africa.

After Michael Hussey and Brad Hodge guided Australia to a commanding 4-336 from their 50 overs on a superb Eden Park batting wicket, New Zealand's batsmen, led by Ross Taylor (117 from 127 balls), Peter Fulton (76 not out from 65) and Craig McMillan (52 from 30), propelled past that total with eight deliveries remaining and five wickets in hand.

None of Australia's four headline pacemen - Glenn McGrath, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait or Shane Watson - threatened the Black Caps' batsmen for extended periods, while the spinners, Brad Hogg and Cameron White, were toothless and directionless on a miniscule ground that forgives neither.