New Zealand beat the West Indies by 21 runs in a one-day international at Christchurch on Saturday to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in their five-match series.

New Zealand made 276 for six from their 50 overs with Nathan Astle smashing the last three balls of the innings for six to remain unbeaten on 118.

Astle also shared a record 99-run partnership with Hamish Marshall (43) for the fifth wicket while fast bowler Ian Bradshaw took 3-41 for the visitors.

The West Indies were all out for 255 in the 49th over in reply. Ramnaresh Sarwan top scored with 65 and Runako Morton made 58 while paceman Shane Bond and super-sub Jeetan Patel captured three wickets each.

The fourth ODI is at Napier on Wednesday.

Scorecard

New Zealand Innings
L. Vincent c Chanderpaul b Bradshaw 25
S. Fleming c Morton b Bradshaw 15
N. Astle not out 118
S. Styris c Ramdin b Bradshaw 1
P. Fulton c Gayle b D.R. Smith 21
H. Marshall c Ganga b Gayle 43
B. McCullum run out 13
J. Franklin not out 17
Extras (lb-12 nb-3 w-8) 23
Total (for 6 wickets, 50 overs) 276

Fall of wickets: 1-34 2-61 3-64 4-87 5-186 6-211

Bowling I. Bradshaw 8 - 0 - 41 - 3 (nb-1 w-2) F. Edwards 10 - 2 - 49 - 0 (nb-2 w-5) D. Butler 10 - 0 - 37 - 0 D. Smith 7 - 0 - 33 - 1 W. Hinds 6 - 0 - 34 - 0 C. Gayle 9 - 0 - 70 - 1 (w-1)

West Indies Innings
C. Gayle c Vettori b Mason 38
D. Ganga b Bond 1
R. Morton c Franklin b Vettori 58
D. Ramdin lbw b Vettori 28
R. Sarwan c Vincent b Bond 65
S. Chanderpaul lbw b Bond 4
W. Hinds st McCullum b Patel 4
D. Smith c Astle b Patel 2
R. Lewis c McCullum b Patel 10
I. Bradshaw c Vincent b Mason 37
D. Butler not out 3
Extras (lb-1 w-4) 5
Total (all out, 49 overs) 255

Fall of wickets: 1-2 2-58 3-127 4-128 5-141 6-147 7-153 8-173 9-250 10-255

Bowling J. Franklin 6 - 0 - 47 - 0 S. Bond 10 - 0 - 47 - 3 M. Mason 10 - 1 - 63 - 2 (w-3) D. Vettori 10 - 2 - 40 - 2 S. Styris 5 - 0 - 15 - 0 J. Patel 8 - 0 - 42 - 3 (w-1)

Result: New Zealand won by 21 runs