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by Julian Guye

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - Nathan Astle's first World Cup hundred in seven years, which guided New Zealand to a Super Six victory over Zimbabwe here on Saturday, was the kind of innings the hard-hitting batsman aims to play every time he steps up to the crease.

Astle's unbeaten 102 at Goodyear Park saw 151 balls ensured a Kiwi victory in a high-pressure contest.

And Astle, New Zealand's leading run scorer in one-day internationals, said the context of his 13th limited overs hundred gave him particular pleasure.

"We need to win two of our three games to get to the semi-finals. It was a must win game at the World Cup and we won it."

Since making a hundred against England at the 1996 World Cup in Ahmedabad, Astle has struggled to shine at the showpiece event.

His subsequent 15 World Cup innings yielded just 89 runs before he started to find his form at this tournament with 46 against West Indies and an unbeaten 54 against South Africa.

"My record is not something you can get away from. I've struggled in my World Cups but cricket is a funny game and it was my day today," said Astle.

"It was an excellent pitch to bat on, it got better as the day went on. There was a bit of life early on but it was a good cricket wicket."

His knock was praised by New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.

"Like Nathan says if he stays in we usually win and his hundred was definitely one of the good things to come out of today's game."

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