By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Auckland, March 11 NZPA - After 15 overs it appeared a masterstroke.

New Zealand's cricket brains trust made the hard calls, axing Peter Ingram and Neil Broom and shuffling up their big guns into what appeared their ideal spots with the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy on the line.

But from 120 for one, what happened next at Eden Park here today resembled a horror show as New Zealand collapsed to be all out for 238, criminally with 35 balls remaining in their innings after Australian captain Ricky Ponting won his fourth consecutive toss and sent them in.

Only a late flurry from Daryl Tuffey, who made 34 off 17 balls and clouted spinner Nathan Hauritz for three consecutive sixes, saved New Zealand from total embarrassment and got the midweek crowd to their feet.

A middle order collapse of five for 34 in 66 balls, including the big wickets of topscorer Brendon McCullum for 61, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris and Daniel Vettori stymied any hopes New Zealand had of posting a par total of about 300.

McCullum arrived with a swagger and with Martin Guptill shifting up to open, they put on 63 off 7.4 overs.

Australia looked a touch ragged, James Hopes conceding an early five overthrows and Ryan Harris overstepping twice in a row as McCullum deposited his first free hit into the stands.

But the familiar problem returned of soft dismissals and regular wickets, despite a healthy run rate.

Guptill, who made 30 off 22 balls, hit a low catch to cover then an unusually circumspect Ross Taylor, with 15 off 37, lofted to a diving Michael Hussey on the mid-wicket boundary.

The wheels fell off in a hurry despite McCullum's efforts as he advanced on Hauritz and chipped a catch to mid-wicket, ending a promising 75-ball knock, including three fours and four sixes.

Remarkably on the postage stamp ground, with one boundary measured at just 51m, New Zealand went 22 overs without finding the fence between the 18th and 40th.

Debutant Shanan Stewart entered to a solid foundation but looked jittery, and on four charged at Hauritz and offered a simple catch to long-on.

Styris was shifted up to No 5 but lasted just 19 balls for eight, then new No 6 Vettori was trapped in front for 12 by a Mitchell Johnson thunderbolt as the paceman responded to the now-familiar crowd taunts.

James Franklin struggled to 10 off 27 balls in his return from a hamstring strain before he gloved an attempted sweep of Hauritz on to his stumps.

At that point it was 177 for seven, and 200 was even looking a distant prospect.

At least Tuffey went out swinging. He ruined Hauritz's figures by taking 22 off the 41st over, and hit the final three balls over the fence at mid-wicket, square leg and straight down the ground.

Shane Bond got into the act with 19 off nine balls as New Zealand took the power play in the 42nd over, but the end arrived quickly when Tuffey was caught and bowled by Harris then Bond was removed by Johnson after just 44.1 overs.

Hauritz ended with three for 46 off eight while Johnson, James Hopes and Shane Watson took two wickets each.

It gave Johnson nine wickets from the past three matches at an average of 14.67.

There was at least some hope for New Zealand when rain arrived in the innings break, but it would be little comfort.

A washout here would leave Australia 2-1 up heading to Wellington for the final match on Saturday, and even a shock home victory there would see the tourists retain the trophy they have held for the past two series.