By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Wellington, March 14 NZPA - Much like a year ago in Australia, New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori was left rueing what might have been.

His team sauntered off Westpac Stadium with a much-needed spring in their boots after recovering from three consecutive losses to defeat Australia by 51 runs last night after a slick bowling and fielding performance before a crowd of 11,587.

It wrapped up another gripping five-match Chappell-Hadlee one-day series with Australia the victors 3-2, a third consecutive trans-Tasman contest where the world champions departed with the trophy.

Last summer New Zealand led 2-0, then at 2-2 were poised to snatch the trophy in game five before rain stymied them in Brisbane; this time the wheels fell off in Auckland after a stirring victory in the series opener in Napier.

"If we reflect back on games, particularly the first game in Auckland, where we bowled so well to restrict them to 275 and then fall over at the end, I think that's the game that's really going to haunt us," Vettori said.

"But there were some really pleasing things, even taking two games off Australia, not a lot of teams have done that lately. I suppose it's a good feeling to know it's an opportunity missed."

Vettori said confidence would be taken forward to Friday's two-test series opener at the Basin Reserve here, along with encouragement looking further afield to the World Cup next February.

The ODI series outcome was a fair result for the world No 1 against world No 4.

Batting was New Zealand's Achilles heel, with only Scott Styris (49.75) and Ross Taylor (44.25) averaging over 35 compared with five Australians: Cameron White (56), Mike Hussey (49.50), Mitchell Johnson (43), Brad Haddin (38.40) and Shane Watson (38.40).

Taylor's 70 in Napier and Vettori's 70 in Auckland were New Zealand's highest of the series as big scores were sadly lacking.

But last night epitomised the impressive bowling efforts, and highlighted the pain for New Zealand that Shane Bond is slipping quietly away to the Indian Premier League (IPL) tomorrow, having retired from test cricket.

Bond's searing bouncers removed Haddin and Australian captain Ricky Ponting in consecutive balls, the latter albeit to a shocker from home umpire Gary Baxter.

Backing up for a third match in five days, Bond reached 150kmh and his four for 26 last night gave him nine series wickets at 21 to continue his outstanding career record against New Zealand's toughest opponents.

Tim Southee recovered from his Auckland horror show (0-55 off 5.1) to chime in with four for 36 last night in an impressive tune-up for the test series where he'll combine with Chris Martin and Daryl Tuffey.

Spinner Nathan McCullum was recalled and on the slower pitch and longer boundaries was an excellent foil for Vettori as he removed dangerman Shane Watson for 53, as the tourists were dismissed for 190 off 46.1 overs.

"I couldn't really ask for too much more from the bowling and fielding side of things, we've still got a lot of work to do with the bat," Vettori said.

Ponting refused to whinge about the umpiring dramas, which also cost Adam Voges his wicket when Asad Rauf detected a non-existent edge.

He gave it the "that's cricket" line and praised New Zealand's bowling as their best of the series. And his own bowling spearhead Mitchell Johnson, who responded to crowd taunts to take 12 wickets at 18.33, was a clear series standout.

"He's bowled as well in this series as I think I've seen him bowl. His execution and his skills are just spot on," Ponting said.

"Pretty much his first ball has been right on the money and he's continued that through his entire spell and picked up important wickets. He had a great series and he's right on top of his game which should hold him in good stead for the tests."