Ponting followed his ton in Adelaide with another in Hobart

Captain Ricky Ponting hit his second successive one-day international ton to lead Australia to a 114-run victory over New Zealand and clinch the series.

Ponting struck an unbeaten 134 on his home ground of Hobart, sharing a 114-run stand with Andrew Symonds (52) as Australia made 282-6.

Brett Lee dismissed New Zealand's openers in successive overs and the tourists subsided for 130.

Scott Styris was the only successful Kiwi batsman, with a defiant 74.

New Zealand won the last Chappell-Hadlee Series 3-0 at home last March but they have still never won a one-day series in Australia.

Ricky was just outstanding - he played two superior innings and took the game beyond us both times Daniel Vettori

Following Australia's seven-wicket triumph in Adelaide and Sunday's abandoned match in Sydney, the best Daniel Vettori's side could have hoped for from the final ODI was a series draw.

Jacob Oram (2-34) gave them an early boost with the wickets of Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey as Australia's top order struggled to find any sort of fluency.

But Ponting, coming to the crease after Michael Clarke was caught and bowled by Mark Gillespie for seven, steadied the ship and then put paid to New Zealand's hopes with his 25th century in one-day internationals.

Australia's captain, who was also unbeaten in the first ODI with a knock of 107, scored his 134 off 133 balls with 10 fours and two sixes.

Wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, replacing the rested Adam Gilchrist, produced a cameo of 26 before he ran himself out attempting a quick single towards the end of the innings.

"It's been a great couple of weeks," said Ponting, who was named man of the match and man of the series a day after his 33rd birthday.

606: DEBATE Ponting's men will now be full of confidence going into the Test series against India, while New Zealand will want to get back to winning ways against Bangladesh David O, BBC Sport

"I had a bit of a rest before this series which freshened me up a bit."

Replying to the hosts' total, New Zealand struggled to score against the pace of Lee (3-47) and Shaun Tait (2-31).

Lee enticed Jamie How into nicking a slow, wide outswinger before luring Brendon McCullum with a quicker ball - both openers caught behind by Haddin with only eight runs on the board.

New Zealand slipped to 72-5 within 18 overs as Australia's attack capitalised on the low-bouncing surface by regularly altering their pace and seam movement.

The spin of Brad Hogg (3-48) ended any hopes the Kiwis had of posting a respectable total, although Styris helped them avoid embarrassment.

The free-scoring 32-year-old hit three consecutive boundaries before he was bowled by a yorker from Lee.

"Ricky was just outstanding," said Vettori. "He played two superior innings and took the game beyond us both times."

It was Australia's 17th victory in their last 19 completed one-day internationals.

"I think the team has played really well throughout the series," Ponting added.

"Adelaide went well, we had a good start in Sydney and then we played very well here.