Cricket: Astle leads Black Caps to victory

Upul Tharanga on his way to 103 today. Phil Walter / Getty Images

An out of form Nathan Astle made 90 not out to lead the Black Caps to a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka in Christchurch today.

Upul Tharanga had posted a century for Sri Lanka to give them a decent score in the third one-dayer, but it was not enough and New Zealand reached the target with two overs to spare.

Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat. The visiting side made steady progress making 255 for 7 in their 50 overs, Tharanga top scoring with 103.

In reply, the Black Caps made 256 for 5 in 48 overs. Lou Vincent made 46.

First man out for Sri Lanka was Avishka Gunawardene, who was well caught by Hamish Marshall off Shane Bond for 3.

Bond also ran out KC Sangakkara with a direct hit.

Another direct hit - this time from Astle close to the boundary - ran out Attapatu on the penultimate ball of the innings.

Play had started on time at midday in good conditions but was interrupted for rain later in the day.

The Black Caps fielded an unchanged side. Astle was named super sub.

Sri Lanka suffered the late withdrawal of veteran Sanath Jayasuriya with a shoulder injury.

Pace bowler Lasith Malinga was dropped with Jehan Mubarak named super sub.

The win seals the five-game series for New Zealand, which began on Boxing Day 2004 and was then postponed for a year after the Asian tsunami.

The Black Caps won the opening game of the resumed series in Queenstown on Saturday by seven wickets.

New Zealand have now won ten of their last 13 matches in Christchurch, including the world-record run chase of 332 when they beat Australia last month.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka
U Tharanga c Fulton b Oram 103
A Gunawardene c Marshall b Bond 3
K Sangakkara run out (Bond) 36
M Jayawardene c McCullum b Mills 6
M Atapattu run out (Astle) 52
T Dilshan c Oram b Cairns 10
F Maharoof b Mills 7
R Arnold not out 21
C Vaas not out 1
Extras (3lb, 3nb, 10w) 16
Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 255

New Zealand
L Vincent c Sangakkara b Maharoof 46
JM How c Mubarak b Vaas 12
NJ Astle not out 90
PG Fulton c Jayawardene b Dilshan 32
HJH Marshall lbw b Muralitharan 12
SB Styris c Dilshan b Maharoof 28
CL Cairns not out 10
Extras (b 1, lb 14, w 3, nb 8) 26
Total (5 wkts, 48 overs) 256

TEAMS:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Lou Vincent, Jamie How, Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond. Super sub: Nathan Astle.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tiilakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Farveez Maharoof, Russel Arnold, Muttiah Muralitharan, Avishka Gunawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando. Super sub: Jehan Mubarak.

Umpires: Darrell Hair, Gary Baxter.
Third umpire: Tony Hill.

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF