Cricket: Nathan Astle returned to form at international level as New Zealand completed victory in the National Bank Series with a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Christchurch yesterday.

Astle scored an unbeaten 90 as the hosts took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series to begin the year in fine fashion.

Lou Vincent (46), Peter Fulton (32) and Scott Styris (28) also made valuable contributions in the one-day international as New Zealand made it home with 12 balls to spare.

Astle survived two dismissals to become the first man to score 3,000 one-day international runs in New Zealand and lead the Black Caps home in his native city. Chris Cairns also took his 200th one-day international wicket on home soil after Upal Tharanga scored his second one-day century to give Sri Lanka a total of 255 for seven to defend.

Sri Lanka prospect Tharanga showed his potential with 103 and captain Marvan Atapattu recorded a speedy half-century.

Tharanga's innings came from only 115 deliveries, his demise arriving when he found the safe hands of Peter Fulton on the onside boundary.

And Jacob Oram was the man who caught Tillakaratne Dilshan for 10 to ensure Canterbury veteran Cairns reached his personal milestone.

Kumar Sangakkara made 36 and Atapattu weighed in with 51, but Sri Lanka's total proved to be under par once New Zealand began their reply.

Vincent set them off to a flying start with his runs coming at quicker than run-a-ball rate, and although he fell in the 12th over, the Canterbury duo of Astle and Fulton pushed the score on.

Astle looked in imperious form as he battled the damp conditions - his innings bracketed a rain-enforced delay - to make a point after his omission from the original squad, with the Black Caps reaching 256 for five.