Nash, in tandem with fellow bowler Daniel Vettori, batted almost two sessions together to give New Zealand the sort of first-innings lead (144) its under-achieving specialists should have compiled.

Nash's bowling, especially given the back problems which have beset him in recent years, is arguably inferior to the likes of left-armers Shayne O'Connor and Geoff Allott, but his value as an all-rounder is proving paramount as he bolsters the top order.

Now the ultra competitive Nash is ready to place pressure on those dual role players above him in the order, Adam Parore and Chris Cairns, whose batting has not fulfilled expectations of late. Cairns's run returns fell away disturbingly last season while Parore has struggled to find form this summer.

By contrast Nash has been scoring more consistently with recent innings of 98 for Northern in a Conference match followed by 70 against Pakistan A and yesterday a test-best 89 not out from six hours at the crease and 230 balls.

Vettori and Nash not only bettered the eighth-wicket partnership record against India of 103 set by Ian Smith and Richard Hadlee at Auckland in 1989-90 they also surpassed by one run, the best against any country, made by Bevan Congdon and Bob Cunis of 136 against West Indies at Port of Spain in 1971-72.

Nash said when he was struggling with his injured back which sidelined him for the better part of two seasons, he worked harder on his batting.

``I'd like to think I've developed with the bat and want to continue that. I've been doing quite a bit of work with a few different people.''

Last season Nash made his highest first-class score scoring two centuries and finishing with a season average of 48.12, making 385 runs from eight innings.

Nash said while making a hundred had come into his mind yesterday, the most important goal had been getting as large a lead as possible.