KEY POINTS:
ADELAIDE- New Zealand's confidence-sapped batsmen crumbled for 203 to hand Australia victory by an innings and 62 runs on the fourth day of the second cricket test here today.
A devastating 10-over spell of four for 23 by Australian speedster Brett Lee spelt doom for the tourists in the morning session and New Zealand's second innings folded just after tea in the 75th over.
It would have been over much quicker but for the resistance of New Zealand vice-captain Brendon McCullum, who cracked an unbeaten 84 off 134 balls, including 14 fours and two sixes, for his 12th test half-century.
Lee ended with five for 105 off 25 overs, his 10th five-wicket haul in tests.
New Zealand's performance was a meek farewell to coach John Bracewell, who ends a five-year stint in charge as New Zealand slip to their lowest spot in the world test rankings at No 8.
Australia completed the expected 2-0 series clean sweep after a 149-run win in the first test in Brisbane and they now prepare to host South Africa in three tests with renewed confidence.
New Zealand resumed this morning on 35 without loss after an encouraging first nine overs yesterday, needing to bat five sessions to save the test and hoping to improve on their substandard first innings of 270.
But within the first hour they lost four wickets for 28 as Lee breathed fire on an Adelaide Oval pitch still offering few terrors.
Yet again, the New Zealand batsmen largely threw their wickets away rather than receiving any unplayable deliveries.
Aaron Redmond cracked Lee through the off side for four off the day's first ball, then on 19 tried to repeat the shot and spooned a catch to point.
Jesse Ryder drove uppishly to cover to perish for three; Ross Taylor got a leading edge on one to give Lee a simple return catch; then Jamie How was trapped on the crease and was brilliantly caught one-handed by Ricky Ponting at second slip for 28.
How looked the most composed New Zealand batsman, facing 66 balls and batting 101 minutes, and when he departed it was a sick 63 for four.
Daniel Flynn survived a dropped catch on nought by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin which would have handed Lee his fifth scalp, but his luck ran out when Mitchell Johnson replaced Lee and trapped the left-hander with an inswinger.
Recalled batsman Peter Fulton batted over an hour for seven before Johnson splayed his stumps and it was 84 for six just after lunch.
After captain Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee were removed by spinner Nathan Hauritz, McCullum added 50 for the ninth wicket with Iain O'Brien, who braved 38 balls without scoring.
-NZPA
