Nash had big role in victory
By Richard Knowler
From Stuff, February 3, 2001

It was a weary but happy Dion Nash who emerged from the Auckland changing shed after yesterday's Shell Trophy cricket match at Fitzherbert Park.

The Auckland captain played a starring role in his team's eight-wicket win over Central Districts.

Furthermore, Auckland did it with two days to spare.

Nash scored 64 runs in Auckland's first innings. But of equal significance was his return to the fray with the ball.

Black Cap Nash hadn't fired down a delivery since breaking down in New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe last year.

On the opening day of the supposed four-day match, Nash contained his instincts to tear into the batsman, sending down only four overs.

Yesterday, he bowled seven. In his first spell, he took one wicket for seven runs off four overs before returning for another three.

In the latter spell, he had an immediate impact after tea, dismissing Ewen Thompson and Gareth West.

Nash said he didn't find it easy to bowl at medium pace, but had learnt from past lessons not to tear into his task with too much gusto.

"I'm just bowling within myself, taking thing pretty easy," Nash said.

"When I woke up this morning (Friday) I felt okay."

Since he was forced to quit the New Zealand team's African odyssey, Nash hasn't been near a physio.

"A man can only see so much of physios in a lifetime," he joked.

"Seriously, I have nothing against them, but I have just been working on it by myself, and I feel that work has paid off.

"If I hadn't felt I was ready to bowl in this match, I wouldn't have done it. I don't want to blow it. The back requires time most of all."

New Zealand convenor of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee watched most of yesterday's match and had a lengthy discussion with Nash, who remained non-committal about when he would be thrust back into international duties.

"He just asked how I was going and congratulated me on my batting," Nash said.

Both Nash and Auckland coach Tony Sail mentioned the efforts of Auckland middleorder batsman Kyle Mills.

In reply to CD's first innings of 132, Auckland teetered on 129 for five with Nash unbeaten on 53 and Mills on 25.

Auckland made 223 and then dismissed CD for 108 in its second innings, requiring only 18 runs to win.

Mills scored 67 off 142 balls before falling to Nelson legspinner Tim Anderson.

"It was a difficult wicket to bat on," Nash said.

"I thought Kyle Mills batted really well, and our bowling effort was okay, too. It was good to see (legspinner) Brooke Walker bowl with some aggression."

Central couldn't blame the irregular bounce of the pitch for most of its dismissals.

Craig Spearman looked as though he could save CD's bacon when he started tearing into Chris Drum; but then he recklessly threw his wicket away, swatting a wide Tama Canning ball into the hands of Brooke Walker at backward point.

With the departure of Spearman went CD's hopes.

Ben Smith and Brent Hefford were CD's next best with 17 and 14, respectively.

Communication was a problem. Mark Douglas was run out without facing a ball, and opener Joseph Hill was sent on a suicide mission by David Kelly when Kelly called a single after playing a shot to short cover.

Auckland made tough work of the 18 runs required.

Opener John Aiken was struck by deja vu on the way to his pair.

In the first innings, Brent Hefford bowled a wide with his first ball of the match and then had Aiken caught behind. In the second innings, he repeated the exercise.

[Articles]