Nash has big say in 67-run victory
By Richard Boock
From NZ Herald, July 27, 2001

The influence of Dion Nash was highlighted again last night as the New Zealand cricketers moved within touching distance of another one-day tournament final.

No stranger to adversity, the injury-hampered Nash shook off the effects of a stomach bug to steer his side to a 67-run win over India in the fifth match of the Coca Cola Cup tournament in Sri Lanka.

In a match reduced to 48 overs because of a wet pitch, New Zealand struggled to muster 200 batting first, but turned in a suffocating effort in the field to snuff out India's chase at 133 in the 40th over.

Unable to play back-to-back matches because of a back condition, the 29-year-old Nash first repaired New Zealand's innings with the bat and then produced a miserly spell with the ball as India lost their third match in succession.

He is proving to be a lightning-rod for the ICC knockout trophy champions, propelling the team to their second win of the tournament in his second outing - a result all the more meritorious considering the illness sweeping the tourists' camp.

Stephen Fleming was again unable to play after being hit the hardest, although team management are hopeful he will be ready for New Zealand's next match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

With unbeaten Sri Lanka virtually assured of qualifying for the final on Sunday week, the New Zealanders are now well-placed to join them, having moved to four points on the tournament ladder with two round-robin games to play.

India will play Sri Lanka tomorrow night, after which John Wright's side will have only two more games to make amends.

Once again, New Zealand's batting line-up promised much more than it delivered, although the absence of Fleming and the drying Premadasa Stadium pitch could be considered mitigating factors.

From the relatively strong position of 85 for one in the 16th over, New Zealand slumped to 126 for six in the 30th, and only a face-saving innings from Nash averted a complete embarrassment.

Arriving with his team's innings in disrepair, Nash played a crucial hand in pushing the score to 200, scoring 42 off 58 balls, and featuring in an important 43-run eighth-wicket partnership with Daniel Vettori.

Given the state of New Zealand's innings and the significance of scoring a second win, the batsman found some curious ways in which to get themselves out, with Jacob Oram and Vettori both falling to reverse-sweeps at crucial moments.

Promoted to No.3 because of Fleming's unavailability, Oram cracked a useful 40 off 37 balls including five fours and a six, but effectively perished of his own hand when he reverse-lapped Harbhajan Singh to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Vettori, trapped in front while attempting the same shot off Virender Shewag, was guilty of a more reckless act as New Zealand were in dire straits and the tail-ender had an obligation to support Nash.

India's chase began reasonably well and gained some impetus through Dravid and Shewag - who added 50 for the third wicket - but things quickly turned to custard.

While Harris strangled the Indians through the middle of the chase, taking two for nine off seven overs, it was Nash who put the brakes on early, ending with one for 25 off 7.4 overs - including an initial spell of six overs for 18 runs.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND

Total (46.4 overs) 200

Fall: 1/21, 2/85, 3/99, 4/108, 5/125, 6/127, 7/143, 8/186, 9/198.

Bowling: Z. Khan 8-0-44-1 (1w), A. Nehra 7-0-36-1 (2nb, 2w), Harbhajan Singh 8-1-42-1, S. Ganguly 9-1-32-3 (1nb, 1w), Yuvraj Singh 10-0-24-2, V. Sehwag 4.4-0-21-2 (1w).

INDIA

Total (39.4 overs) 133

Fall: 1/5, 2/9, 3/59, 4/66, 5/99, 6/111, 7/112, 8/114, 9/122, 10/133.

Bowling: D Tuffey 4-0-15-1 (1w), K Mills 4-0-20-1, D Nash 7.4-0-25-1, D Vettori 10-0-33-1 (1w, 2nb), C Harris 7-3-9-2, J Oram 4-0-18-0 (2nb), N Astle 3-0-13-0.

Result: New Zealand won by 67 runs.

Man of the match: Dion Nash (New Zealand).

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