Cricket: Astle reaches 200-ODI milestone

Despite his lean trot of late, Nathan Astle will still have good cause to raise his bat in triumph in tomorrow's (NZ time) one-day cricket international against South Africa.

The Black Caps will step onto Sahara Stadium, Durban with the five-match series already settled after the hosts took an unassailable 3-0 lead with victory in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Leaving South Africa without the words "white wash" ringing in their ears is now the Black Caps main aim, but Astle can still find room for some quiet celebration when he becomes just the fourth New Zealand player to make 200 one-day appearances after Chris Harris (250), Stephen Fleming (243) and Chris Cairns (208).
"It's a nice milestone to get there, and I want to make it a memorable day for myself and the team," Astle told Radio Sport.

Astle, 34, hasn't enjoyed a runs spree to date, but before the South African series, smashed 115 against India in a one-day tri-series final in Zimbabwe last month.

After nearly a double century of matches Astle has been around long enough not to be swayed by his recent patch, and with 6369 runs behind him, knows it's just a matter of time before he finds his touch.

"Obviously the bat for me has been non-existent. That's part of international sport and that's the way it goes and you just have to keep on trucking and trusting what you know. Sooner or later you'll come out on the other side.

"It's more of a mental thing now. When you go out there you just have to relax and remember what you've done in the past that has got you runs."

New Zealand's series against the Proteas has been hampered by, besides skipper Fleming, a faltering top-order that has failed to post an extra 20-30 runs to really stretch the hosts.

Already two of the matches have been decided in the last over, and Astle said the team know the ledger could have been vastly different.

"I think the guys are disappointed in the way it's been three close games.

"We haven't got absolutely thumped and it could be easily 2-1, or 3-0 the other way around. We know we're close to these guys, and all three games have been great spectacles for the crowd.

"It's just disappointing that we haven't got over the line.

"From the series point of view it would have been nice to have something riding on these last two games but it's purely pride now and we don't want to lose five nil. We want to come home losing 3-2.

"That's our aim at the moment."

- NZPA