/ 27 October 2007

Bond bowls NZ to win over SA Invitation XI

Fast bowler Shane Bond led New Zealand to victory by 216 runs against a South African Invitation XI in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Bond took 3-26 as the home side, who were set 308 for victory, crashed to 91 all out in the eighth over before the scheduled close on the third day of the four-day match.

Medium pacers Jacob Oram and Chris Martin and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori took two wickets each.

New Zealand were bowled out for 145 in their second innings on Saturday.

The visitors struggled to come to terms with a difficult pitch and Craig Cumming’s 67, which included 14 fours, was their top score.

Medium pacers Jon Kent, who took 4-45, and Ethy Mbhalati, who claimed 3-53, moved the ball off the seam consistently and extracted awkward bounce.

New Zealand earned control of the match by taking four wickets for 18 runs in the first six overs after tea to reduce the Invitation XI to 44-5. — Reuters