Australia's two-wicket win over New Zealand in the tri-series cricket match has given the world champions the perfect tonic going into a mini-break of five days.

Australia scored a dramatic win over their trans-Tasman rival when Brad Williams and Andrew Symonds were both dropped off the last two balls of the match and able to scamper through for runs.

Australia scored 8-259 with just one ball to spare with Michael Clarke (70), Michael Bevan (50) and Symonds (37 not out) leading the way.

New Zealand made 9-258 from its 50 overs and was saved by bowler Jacob Oram's career-best 81.

Williams took 5-53 to rout the New Zealand top order and win his second man of the match award for the tournament.

Australia's win was its third in succession after the first-up loss to India and capped a hectic start to the series.

Having played - and won - two matches over the past three days in the sweltering south, Australia can now rest and still have time for a good build-up to Saturday's match against the Kiwis in the north-east city of Guwahati.

"It's been a pretty tough preparation for us, four games in (nine) days, especially in India it's going to be hard on anyone," captain Ricky Ponting said.

"We've won three of those games and set ourselves up nicely.

"We're going to sit down and watch the Melbourne Cup tomorrow and have a good afternoon, I think we'll probably have the next couple of days after that off as well."

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