SYDNEY, Feb 8: Australia are still alive in the one-day series against New Zealand after surviving an almighty scare from century-maker Grant Elliott and a courageous Brendon McCullum at the SCG on Sunday.

The pair put on 69 runs for the eighth wicket in just 49 balls to thrust the visitors back in the contest before the confidence-deprived Australia eventually downed their stubborn foes by 32 runs in the third One-day International.

Man-of-the-Match Brad Haddin (109 off 114 balls) earlier set up Australia’s total of 301-9 before the Black Caps replied with 269 in 47.3 overs.

Elliott (115) and McCullum (36 off 27 balls) well and truly put the wind up the Australians late in the match but were unable to stop Australia snapping a five-match losing streak.

Regular opener McCullum came in at No 9 due to a shoulder injury which will be the subject of scans in Adelaide on Monday with back-up gloveman Gareth Hopkins flying over as cover.

The result has set up an intriguing showdown in Adelaide on Tuesday with the Black Caps still holding a 2-1 lead in the best of five series.

Haddin earlier rebounded from one of the most testing weeks of his career. After being shifted to opener, Haddin played a superb hand that would have had Indian Premier League franchise bosses scratching their heads after he was overlooked in last Friday’s player auction.

Not only has Haddin had to cope with that rejection but also accusations he was a cheat after the controversial dismissal of New Zealand’s Neil Broom in Perth last Sunday.

The SCG knock was his second breakthrough innings against the Black Caps this season, his 169 in the Test in Adelaide having silenced any mutterings about his place in the side.

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

No side had scored more than 270 in a successful run chase in a One-day International in Sydney and New Zealand’s response started badly with Martin Guptill (6) and Ross Taylor (4) back in the hut with their team’s tally on 16.

Elliott and Peter Fulton (40) set about rebuilding the innings before Cameron White took a brilliant diving catch to remove Fulton.

The visitors never looked like seriously threatening the target until McCullum came in late with his side needing 119 from 83 balls.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

B.J. Haddin run out 109

M.J. Clarke c Guptill b Elliott 64

R.T. Ponting c Mills b Elliott 16

D.J. Hussey c McCullum b O’Brien 7

C.L. White c Vettori b O’Brien 10

M.E.K. Hussey c Taylor b Mills 51

C.J. Ferguson lbw b Vettori 28

J.R. Hopes b O’Brien 8

M.G. Johnson c Patel b Mills 1

N.W. Bracken not out 3

B.W. Hilfenhaus not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 301

FALL OF WKTS: 1-135, 2-169, 3-187, 4-200, 5-212, 6-274, 7-297, 8-297, 9-299.

BOWLING: Mills 9-0-59-2; Southee 10-0-52-0 (1w); Vettori 10-0-52-1; O’Brien 10-1-68-3 (1w); Elliott 8-0-44-2 (1w); Patel 3-0-25-0.

NEW ZEALAND:

M.J. Guptill c Ferguson b Bracken 6

P.G. Fulton c White b Hopes 40

L.R.P.L. Taylor lbw b Hilfenhaus 4

G.D. Elliott c M. Hussey b Hopes 115

N.T. Broom c Hilfenhaus b White 1

K.D. Mills c Bracken b D. Hussey 2

D.L. Vettori c Clarke b White 2

T.G. Southee c Haddin b Johnson 17

B.B. McCullum c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 36

J.S. Patel b Bracken 9

I.E. O’Brien not out 0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-11, W-8) 23

TOTAL (all out, 47.3 overs) 269

FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-16, 3-96, 4-149, 5-152, 6-157, 7-183, 8-252, 9-262.

BOWLING: Bracken 8.3-1-65-2 (1w); Hilfenhaus 9-1-44-2 (1w); Johnson 10-2-36-1 (2w); Hopes 10-0-49-2; Clarke 5-0-41-0 (2w); D.J. Hussey 3-0-9-1; White 2-0-10-2.

RESULT: Australia won by 32 runs.

UMPIRES: S.J.A. Taufel (Australia) and S.A. Bucknor (West Indies).

TV UMPIRE: R.J. Tucker (Australia).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Brad Haddin.

FIRST MATCH: Perth, New Zealand won by two wickets.

SECOND MATCH: Melbourne, New Zealand won by six wickets.

FOURTH MATCH: Adelaide (D/N), Tuesday.

FIFTH MATCH: Brisbane (D/N), Friday.

—Agencies