Super Nash fires Lord's warning
By Peter Edwards
From The Daily Express, 12 July, 1999

Now for England after Dion stuns hapless Hampshire

New Zealand have struggled to use their match with Hampshire to regain form, but acting captain Dion Nash, at least, should go to Lord's for the second Test with his confidence high.

Nash, after a career-best frist innings of 135 not out which rescued his side from the crisis of 56-5, destroyed Hampshire's top order, gaining life and movement from a benign pitch.

The former Middlesex seamer claimed 7-39 - another career best - to give New Zealand a lead of 73 at Southampton. And in the Kiwis' second innings he again proved a thorn in the side of the Hampshire attack. When Nash arrived at the crease his team were a precarious 114-5 when Nathan Astle was leg before to John Stephenson for 46 and Hampshire began to sense the chance of claiming the £11,000 prize awaiting a side to beat the tourists.

But Nash had other ideas and with Daniel Vettori hammered 85 in 23 overs before Vettori (45) was sharply stumped off off-spinner Shaun Udal.

Nash fell to the last ball of the day when he was caught by Matthew Keech at long on off Udal. He had thrashed 62 with two sixes and six fours from 122 balls and New Zealand had the comfort of a 320-run lead.

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