Just down the road from Australia's political power base, Steve Smith's men have emphatically re-asserted their one-day international authority.

The World Cup champions' spot atop the ICC rankings was on the line this week, a scenario brought about by their 5-0 thumping at the hands of South Africa in October.

The lesson from these past three days, as Australia regained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy from New Zealand by taking a 2-0 series lead at Manuka Oval, is they won't be giving it up easily. And, with the two most prolific batsmen in the world this year, they will take some shifting.

On Sunday, Smith had made history with the highest innings in an ODI at the SCG. On Tuesday, before a crowd of 9173, it was his deputy Warner's turn for a record, surpassing Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden with a hundred that gives him more three-figure scores in a calendar year than any Australian and three more in 2016 than any other player in the world.

All smiles: Josh Hazlewood celebrates with team mates after the wicket of Tom Latham. Photo: Getty Images

On a day for batsmen, the Australians - sent in bizarrely by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson at a venue noted for huge totals - had the upper hand and Pat Cummins (4-41), reaching 150kmh, led the way in completing a 116-run win.

Set on course by Warner (119 from 115 balls) and Smith (72 from 76), Australia's total of 5-378 was significant even by Canberra's lofty standards, falling behind only the 4-411 South Africa reached during the World Cup last year against Ireland among ODI scores at the ground.

After a start to the Test summer in which Australia could hardly buy a run, they are now making them for fun.

And following heavy defeats in the first two Tests of the summer to South Africa there is suddenly a far more positive feeling around this Australian team even after victory in the third Test in Adelaide and now this series.

"I can't really put my finger on it. I just think that the boys took it hard, it really, really hurt us down in Hobart," Warner said. "Losing that series on our home soil, it really does hurt.

"I think it's probably the kick in the backside that we needed to get us back up and going. The senior players really have to keep stepping up. If we do that then the other players will follow us."

The Australian vice-captain's knock continued a standout year in the format, with the 30-year-old registering his third ODI hundred in five games and his sixth since January. Not even Ponting, with five in 2003 and 2007 and Hayden with five in 2007, could match that tally and only Sachin Tendulkar (nine in 1998) and Sourav Ganguly (eight in 2000) have more tons in a calendar year - and they both played at least 10 more games in compiling them as Warner has his half dozen. 

Picturesque: James Faulkner of Australia fields near the boundary rope as the sun sets in Canberra. Photo: Getty Images

The next best of anyone else around the world in 2016 are Smith, South Africa's Quinton de Kock, Indian maestro Virat Kohli and Pakistan's Babar Azam with three each, and Warner and Smith are in that order the leading run-scorers in 50-over international cricket this year.

Smith was again a key contributor in a 145-run stand with Warner, while Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, elevated above George Bailey in the batting order, also thrashed half-centuries. Smith continued on after sustaining a painful blow when a delivery from Colin de Grandhomme struck him in the protector. Smith, dropped to his haunches in agony, but Warner could only laugh. "I laughed because he laughed at me when I got hit in Adelaide. I was getting him back," Warner joked.

Williamson had won the toss and on an overcast day after drizzle delayed the coin toss, he raised eyebrows by sending the Australians in. If he thought the conditions may play into the favour of the Black Caps bowlers, Warner and co were happy to prove him wrong.

Skittled: Mitchell Santner is bowled by Mitchell Starc. Photo: Getty Images

"Obviously hindsight is a wonderful thing," said New Zealand seamer Tim Southee of the decision. "I think the reason behind it was the conditions the last couple of days. It hasn't been overly hot and sunny and there has been a bit of rain around. History would obviously suggest to bat first but we we just felt that the conditions and wearing spikes in the wicket it felt a little bit tacky so we thought if we made a few early in-roads it could have been different."

It was the second match of the series in which all-rounder Glenn Maxwell didn't feature - Australia made only the one change from Sydney, starting James Faulkner instead of Adam Zampa - and while 'The Big Show' may get a run in the third match in Melbourne on Friday with the series wrapped, up Head has impressed in the middle order.

The 22-year-old was able to put his foot down, taking only 32 balls for his 57 in his second fifty of the series, and was later able to withstand a beating from Williamson (81 from 80) and Jimmy Neesham (74 from 83) when Smith turned to his part-time off-spin.

Marsh, who needed a score, produced one with a bruising 76 from 40.