NZ rues missed chances

Winning the last match in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series had left the New Zealand side thinking about missed opportunities back down the track.

New Zealand had a 51-run win at Westpac Stadium in Wellington to lose the series 2-3, but captain Daniel Vettori said it was a timely boost, not only for the forthcoming Test series but the World Cup next year.

"Anytime you beat Australia is a great feeling," he said.

"Taking two games off Australia, not a lot of teams have done that lately, and I suppose it is a good thing to think we had an opportunity missed too," he said.

While there were disappointments with the batting effort again, Daryl Tuffey, Nathan McCullum and Shane Bond had given the side something to bowl at while the wicket became more difficult to bat on and New Zealand bowled very well, he said.

"I think some guys really stood up and took wickets. I think Tim [Southee] and Shane [Bond] turned those two-fers, middling performances into match-winning ones," he said.

Vettori said he had been pleased with the way the side bowled during the series, there had been other good signs, and the fifth bowler, Nathan McCullum, gave an extra edge in Saturday's win.

"I couldn't really ask too much more from the bowling and fielding side of things but we have a lot of work with the bat," he said.

Southee said he was pleased to get his bag of four wickets, but just as happy to string a good start and end to the innings. He had struggled at the start throughout the series, but the bowlers worked as a unit on the night and had the rewards.

Vettori said the demands of the last week with three games in five days had been very demanding and a factor in having a good break before the Test match.

"I suppose the people who stand up in that period know their game and play some good cricket, we managed to do it one out of three games but to try and be the best we've got to do it three out of three," he said.