Cricket: Nash to rescue as Auckland recover from 5-wicket slump

Dion Nash emphasised his all-round value as he rescued Auckland against Otago at Carisbrook yesterday.

Nash scored an unbeaten 77 and dominated an unbroken stand of 91 with captain Brooke Walker as Auckland recovered to reach 268 for six at the close of the opening day of the State Championship match.

It was Nash's first innings since his unbeaten 25 for New Zealand against Australia in the first test in Brisbane, and his fighting spirit led Auckland out what might have become a difficult position.

Auckland, well placed at lunch at 92 for one after they were sent into bat, lost five wickets for 85 in the afternoon and their innings was teetering at 177 for six at the tea break.

But Nash thrives in such situations and, by stumps, he and the obdurate Walker had thrust Auckland's nose in front after a day that was, for a long time, a war of attrition.

Nash passed his 17th half-century and is in sight of his fifth century, his runs coming off 124 balls and including 12 fours.

It was slow going for a long time but, after Nash square-drove Craig Pryor to reach his 50 off 90 balls, he attacked the bowling with some beautifully-struck drives and well-timed clips off his pads.

Walker (21) was the perfect foil and, with plenty of depth in their tail, Auckland will be targeting a total in excess of 350 today to put the pressure back on Otago.

Left-handed opener Tim McIntosh (21) was the only victim of the morning session, caught behind off Pryor who moved the ball about awkwardly at times.

Matt Horne, banging on the door for a test recall, batted through the first session without trouble and had reached 49 when he clipped David Sewell off his pads for four, but was then trapped in front by a yorker.

Horne scored his runs off 101 balls and he has now totalled 358 runs (average 119.33) for the domestic season.

He and Nick Horlsey added 51 for the second wicket before Horsley (25) caught a lifter from Kerry Walmsley on the splice of his bat and offered a catch to Brendon McCullum in the gully.

Aaron Barnes looked in good touch before he was leg-before for 16 playing no shot at Pryor.

Rob Nicol (21) played some aggressive shots before he pulled a short ball from Walmsley straight to Lee Germon at mid-on, and Kyle Mills batted 110 minutes for 23 before he was adjudged leg-before to Walmsley by umpire David Quested.

Walmsley took three wickets to increase his career first-class total to 99 and bowled with enthusiasm and pace before he suffered cramps late in the day.

He had confident caught-behind decisions turned down against Nash and Walker, and those batsmen remain to frustrate Otago into the second day.

It was hard graft all round and Otago will need to wrap up the Auckland innings - and build a sound foundation to their own - to remain in contention for their first points of the season.

- NZPA