Nathan Astle's name should be etched into the New Zealand cricket selectors' notebook in permanent ink for the remainder of the season after the hosts beat West Indies by 21 runs to clinch the one-day series 3-0 with two games remaining.

Astle, whose faced the selectors' scalpel twice this summer, guided the Black Caps to 276 for six with his unbeaten 118.

He slammed an exclamation mark, producing a stunning catch on the boundary which heralded the West Indies' demise.

In reply, the tourists showed early promise, but failed to show any firepower as their senior players again fell by the wayside despite a fine 65 from 78 balls from Ramnaresh Sarwan as they were rolled for 255 in 49 overs.

It wasn't the case for Astle in his 210th match, with his knock just the second one-day century scored by a New Zealander against the West Indies following Stephen Fleming's unbeaten 106 at Port of Spain a decade ago.

Astle raised his 16th century in the final over, then finished the innings at Jade Stadium in blazing style, cracking successive sixes from the last three deliveries of Chris Gayle's over.

Astle's innings came from 126 balls and included seven boundaries. His 100 came from 123 deliveries.

In the 32nd over of the West Indies innings, Astle produced a superb catch which is bound to feature in countless replays.

Dangerman Dwayne Smith hit a Jeetan Patel delivery over the mid-wicket boundary until Astle leapt high, right hand fully outstretched as he appeared to hang in the air like a basketballer before landing with his foot inside the rope.

The tourists slumped to 157 for seven and managed to postpone the inevitable defeat for a while more, while a battling ninth wicket partnership from Sarwan and Ian Bradshaw ended.

Wickets were shared, with Jeetan Patel taking three for 42 and Shane Bond three for 47.

The fourth match is in Napier on Wednesday.

Since being dropped by the selectors twice this summer, Astle has responded in fine fashion. He hit 90 in the first match in Wellington.

That, coupled with Saturday's effort, should see him retain his place when the squad for the final two matches in Napier and Auckland is named.

Black Caps skipper Fleming, who became New Zealand's highest capped one-day player with 251 appearances, won the toss.

Astle was the backbone of the New Zealand innings, raising his 40th half-century off 75 balls in the 35th over with a sedate three boundaries given his usual standards.

He was joined by Hamish Marshall at 84 for four and set about creating a new record for a fifth wicket partnership against the West Indies, beating the 92 set by Chris Cairns and Fleming in Port of Spain 10 years ago.

The pair eventually added a valuable 99 before Marshall holed out to long on for 43.

Astle entered the innings early when Lou Vincent, after cracking three sixes, fell for 25 in the fifth over when he chipped Bradshaw to mid-on.

West Indies started their run chase in familiar fashion, losing an early wicket when Bond bowled Daren Ganga for two.

Chris Gayle finally showed his class, but threw away his wicket after making 38 from 23 balls when he skied to Daniel Vettori at mid-off.

Danesh Ramdin joined Ranako Morton at 58 for two and added 69 runs to keep the chase going, but when Morton fell in the deep off to Vettori after making his third half-century with 58 from 62 balls, another two quick wickets dropped leaving them 141 for five.

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