Cricket: Bond quick to hit his stride

New Zealand's bowling spearhead Shane Bond marked his return to club cricket with a superb match-winning double in Christchurch.

A year ago, Bond was toiling away for High School Old Boys, giving many club cricketers a hurry-up at the crease before getting his call-up to the national side in Australia.

On Saturday, back from international commitments for the second day of the first round, he hammered an unbeaten 47 from just 27 balls, with four sixes, and then took seven for 30 as Sydenham were beaten by an innings and 32 runs.

Bond was fresh from playing for a World XI against England in Cardiff, alongside international team-mates Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle.

But it wasn't his bowling at blistering speed on the slow-paced, early-season home pitch that scuttled Sydenham.

His confidence, control and movement at sharp but not dangerous pace in the conditions was too demanding for the first-grade cricketers. Among his victims, in the course of breaking a promising stand, was All Black fullback Leon MacDonald.

- NZPA