CANBERRA (Reuters)
Nathan Astle helped New Zealand complete their first tour win in the final match of their Australian trip, against the Australian Prime Minister's XI at Canberra.

Chasing an easy target of 218 to win off 50 overs, Astle - who topped the batting averages for New Zealand in their drawn Test series against Australia, and scored 156 not out in the final Test at Perth - struck 85 from 93 balls to guide the New Zealanders to 222 for 6 off 48 overs, for a four-wicket victory. Mark Richardson (40), Chris Cairns (35) and Glen Sulzberger (23 not out) also chipped in.

Lou Vincent, who scored a century on Test debut against Australia last week, was out in the first over for a duck.

The New Zealanders looked in trouble at 74 for 4 in the 21st over, but Cairns and Astle helped consolidate the position with a 77-run partnership.

Then Astle and Sulzberger took the New Zealanders through to victory. Astle finished the tour in style, with a huge six over midwicket.

Earlier fast bowler Chris Drum took five wickets as the New Zealanders restricted the Prime Minister's XI to 217 for 7 in their 50 overs

The Prime Minister's side got off to a good start, with New South Wales wicketkeeper Brad Haddin smashing 35 off 34 balls, including six fours, before he was dismissed by Drum in the 12th over with the score on 60.

But the PM's XI could not sustain their momentum, and collapsed to 74 for 4 as Drum tore through the top order, taking all four wickets.

Skipper Greg Blewett - who was called up to replace his South Australian team-mate Darren Lehmann, who withdrew from the match to be with his wife while she gave birth to twins - and Australian Capital Territory's Jack Smith helped steady the innings before Drum bowled Blewett for 41. Drum finished with impressive figures of 5 for 34 off his 10 overs, while Smith top-scored with 48 not out.

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