Dion Nash made it clear to the New Zealand selectors that he is fit and ready, with the bat at least, to be considered for the one-day team to return to Australia in the New Year with a hard-hit innings of 77 not out for Auckland against Otago in Dunedin today.

The first day in the State Championship match at Carisbrook was quite a pedestrian until Nash started to hit out towards the end.

Auckland finished on 268/6, a position much better than it had been at tea when it was 177/6.

It was only in the final session that the bat shone through to any great extent.

The game which had started in very cold and overcast conditions with a hint of rain graduated into clear blue skies and a cool breeze and Auckland did well to be 92/1 at lunch under these circumstances.

Prospective Test batsman Matt Horne looked good and seemed certain to go onto a big score but was adjudged lbw to David Sewell for 49.

Most of the other Auckland batsmen got into their twenties did not, unfortunately for them, go on. Nick Horsley scored 25, Kyle Mills 23, Tim McIntosh and Rob Nicol both scored 21.

The exception was Nash, who showed all his class and hit hard during his excellent innings which has so far latest 124 balls with 12 fours.

Captain Brooke Walker was a patient support for Nash as he scored 21 not out in their 91-run stand in 131 minutes from 106 balls.

The Otago bowling again failed to press home the advantage they had at tea, but Kerry Walmsley could be considered unlucky not to finish with a bag of five, finally capturing three scalps. His three for 52 came off 25 overs while Craig Pryor took two for 72 from 18 overs and, like Sewell, never stopped trying.

However, tomorrow could easily see Auckland carrying onto a large total on a good batting wicket and then putting the pressure on an Otago batting line-up which has not gone on so far this season.

© CricInfo