Astle guides NZ to series victory

One-day international, Christchurch: New Zealand 256-5 (48 overs) beat Sri Lanka 255-7 (50 overs) by 5 wickets

Full scorecard

Astle and Cairns combined in the final overs

New Zealand won the one-day series against Sri Lanka after Nathan Astle hit a patient unbeaten 90 to secure a five-wicket win in Christchurch.

Chasing 256, Astle scored his 38th one-day international half century while Lou Vincent hit 46 off 44 balls.

Upul Tharanga scored his second one-day ton to anchor Sri Lanka's total of 255-7, combining with Kumar Sangakkara (36) in a 109-run second-wicket stand.

Cairns took his 200th wicket when Tillakaratne Dilshan was caught for 11.

The match was the third in a series which began in December 2004 - New Zealand won the first game - but which was cut short after the Asian tsunami disaster.

With the Kiwis now 3-0 ahead overall and just two matches to play, Sri Lanka can only play for pride - and international ranking points - in the remaining two contests.

Astle - only in the squad after Stephen Fleming pulled out to attend the birth of his first child and super-sub for Kyle Mills - took 125 balls to reach 50.

He had two slices of luck in the final overs when he was caught in the covers off Dilhara Fernando and then bowled by Chaminda Vaas, both off no balls.

Thuranga hit 103 in 125 balls

Vaas struggled with his control in the 48th over, bowling two no balls and a wide, and conceded 19 runs.

Peter Fulton followed up his 70 not out from the second match with 32, while Scott Styris chipped in with 28.

Sri Lanka's captain Marvan Atapattu added 52 when he held the innings together towards the end, though it was Tharanga's day.

Playing in just his 12th one-day international, the 20-year-old peppered shots all around the ground and was only dismissed on 103 when he hooked a short delivery off Jacob Oram.

Sri Lanka then lost wickets at regular intervals before Russel Arnold smashed three boundaries off the 49th over from Cairns to push Sri Lanka over 250.