KEY POINTS:
Fast Bowler Shane Bond is evidently a quick learner given his stranglehold over England's batsmen on a pitch designed to blunt his effectiveness.
Bond could have been forgiven for not relishing marking out his run at Beaujesour Stadium yesterday considering the pitch was expected - and duly provided - little encouragement for a genuine quick.
However, undeterred by negligible swing on offer and no scope to move the ball off the seam, Bond still managed to record the remarkable figures of two for 19 from his 10 overs.
Bond's execution in the most unfavourable of conditions confirmed his status as one of the canniest speedsters among the World Cup bowlers on duty in the Caribbean.
He took 17 wickets on the odd green top in South Africa four years ago and his input - even if that tally is not matched - looms as crucial to NewZealand's chances of progressing past the Super Eights to the semifinals.
Captain Stephen Fleming's inspired re-introduction of his trumpcard immediately after Paul Collingwood was snared for 31 by Scott Styris in the 35th over put England on the back foot, from which it didn't recover.
Kevin Pietersen, on 60, couldn't resist advancing down the pitch to Bond's third ball, only to scoop a catch to fellow bowler James Franklin at long on.
Two balls later, hard-hitting allrounder Andrew Flintoff directed his first delivery - a cunningly disguised slower ball - to Styris at short cover.
Suddenly England's attacking threat was diminished and New Zealand faced a far easier chase of 210, a task they achieved with nine overs and six wickets to spare.
Bond is not your normal tearaway fast bowler who relies on sheer pace. He's intelligent enough to mix it up, which he did to telling effect against England.
"I just took it down a gear. I summed up the situation quickly about what was required. Rather than trying to bowl one consistent speed, it was about changes of pace," Bond said.
"From the start, I could tell there wasn't going to be a lot of carry and after a couple of overs there wasn't going to be any swing. It was pretty nude after that."
He described his double breakthrough as "probably my greatest over ever".
"Getting those two boys, it probably turned the match a little bit.
"They (Collingwood and Pietersen) were setting up for a big launch, so it just stifled them."
Fleming paid credit to Bond's intuitiveness, admitting it wasn't in a fast bowler's nature to willingly turn down the heat.
"He was very smart. I think he bowled the first slow ball in his second over.
"Often with fast bowlers you just want them to bowl as quick as they can.
"Shane is very smart in his preparation and he's worked hard on that slow ball.
"Getting Pietersen and Flintoff ... coming to the end of an innings they can be incredibly dangerous so to get them at that stage was very important."
