Hayden provided the backbone for the Australian innings

Australia thrashed Zimbabwe by 139 runs in another largely pointless contest in Harare, with Matthew Hayden and Darrel Lehmann both playing leading roles.

Batting first, Australia hit 323-8 in their 50 overs with Hayden hitting 87.

Lehmann, who smacked 67 off 69 balls, then picked up 4-7, his best bowling figures in one-day internationals.

Jason Gillespie hit 33 not out off just 16 balls but finished wicketless along with Glenn McGrath, playing his second one-dayer after a long injury break.

The series is won 2-0 by Australia, who are expected to claim a facile 3-0 whitewash on Saturday.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting was making his 200th appearance in one-day internationals, and appeared down the order at eight, making just 10 runs before being stumped.

But by then, Australia were already on a score that Zimbabwe would never reach in their wildest dreams.

For the record, Brendan Taylor top-scored for the hosts with 65, while no other player reached 30.

Douglas Hondo did not bat after being forced to leave the field when struck in the ear off his own bowling by Ponting.

Zimbabwe: S Matsikenyeri, B R M Taylor, V Sibanda, D D Ebrahim, T Taibu (Capt, Wkt), M A Vermeulen, A Maregwede, W Mwayenga, T Panyangara, T Mupariwa, D T Hondo.

Australia: A C Gilchrist (Wkt), M L Hayden, R T Ponting (Capt), D R Martyn, M J Clarke, D S Lehmann, G B Hogg, I J Harvey, J N Gillespie, M S Kasprowicz, G D McGrath.