Cricket: Bond grabs three wickets in first three overs

Shane Bond (left) celebrates his dismissal of Zimbabwe batsman Brendon Taylor on day one of the second cricket test in Zimbabwe. Picture / Reuters

BULAWAYO - Shane Bond is a changed bowler from the man who grabbed 43 wickets in 10 test matches before roaming the injury wilderness for two years.

"I've toned it down a little to get more control, and I've had some success," he said after claiming career-best figures of six for 51 on the first day of the second test in Bulawayo.

"I know 140 kilometres per hour is quick enough, but I can step it up if I need to.

"It's good to have some gas in the tank at the end of the day."

Bond's return to international action in the first test in Harare was promising, but he saved his best for Bulawayo.

He made the most of what little swing was on offer early on a hot day to knock over Dion Ebrahim, Stuart Carlisle and Hamilton Masakadza in his first three overs.

Bond returned to remove obdurate opener Brendan Taylor and the dangerous Heath Streak with consecutive deliveries, and he wrapped up a fine display by dismissing Zimbabwean captain and top-scorer Tatenda Taibu.

And all that on what Bond will hope will prove among the flatter pitches he will encounter in his career.

"It was one of those days when they hit it or miss it," he said.

"There were nine overs of swing in the morning, and after that it was hard work.

"It's drier here than in Harare, and tougher physically, and we made more errors in the last few overs."

Bond was not unhappy to have helped send the home side packing for 231, even in the light of the 59 and 99 they were dismissed for in Harare.

"If you handed that score to us at the start of the day we would have taken it," he said.

"We got a good start but they gutsed it out and played some good shots."

New Zealand will be less satisfied to have slipped to 48 for two at the close.

The run out of Hamish Marshall for 13 with what became the last ball of the day's play was particularly galling.

Marshall and Lou Vincent, who was 20 not out, both bolted for the same end, and looked at each other sheepishly while they figured out who had to go.

"I was on the massage table when that happened, and all I heard was a few curses," Bond said.

Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu positively beamed as he considered his team's much improved showing.

"The guys went out to bat positively, they weren't fearful like they were in Harare," he said.

"The most important thing is that it sends a message to our dressingroom that we can bat for a long period of time."

Taibu himself scored a defiant 76 to help resurrect an innings that staggered to seven for three after Bond's opening blitz.

"I took it on myself to take the game to New Zealand," Taibu said.

New Zealand will look to make the most of what should be perfect batting conditions on Tuesday.


* Scoreboard at close on the first day of the second and final cricket test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand:


Zimbabwe


First innings


D Ebrahim lbw b Bond 0
B Taylor c McCullum b Bond 37
S Carlisle lbw b Bond 1
H Masakadza c Martin b Bond 0
C Wishart c Astle b Franklin 30
T Taibu c Vettori b Bond 76
H Streak c McCullum b Bond 0
K Dabengwa b Martin 17
B Mahwire c Astle b Vettori 42
G Cremer not out 7
C Mpofu c J Marshall b Vettori 7
Extras (4lb, 10nb) 14
Total (all out, 79 overs) 231
Fall: 0, 3, 7, 65, 74, 74, 123, 211, 217, 231.
Bowling: S Bond 17-4-51-6 (1nb), J Franklin 12-3-43-1 (3nb), C Martin 13-4-42-1 (2nb), S Styris 4-2-9-0, D Vettori 27-9-56-2 (3nb), N Astle 6-2-26-0


New Zealand


First innings


J Marshall c Carlisle b Streak 10
L Vincent not out 20
H Marshall run out 13
Extras (5nb) 5
Total (for 2 wkts, 9.3 overs) 48
Fall: 34, 48
Bowling
H Streak 5-1-27-1 (4nb), B Mahwire 4.3-1-21-0 (1nb)

- NZPA