Videocon Triangular Series, 2005-06

At Bulawayo, August 26, 2005. New Zealand won by 51 runs. New Zealand 6 pts. Toss: New Zealand.

A low-scoring game - the match aggregate was lower than New Zealand's previous total - was characterised by superb new-ball bowling and determined late-order batting. Nehra swung the ball late in a spell of 6-3-6-2; with Pathan, he reduced New Zealand to 36 for five. But less effective back-up allowed McMillan and McCullum to lift them to 215. Then Bond outdid Nehra with a ferocious spell of 7-2-13-5, which made him the first supersub man of the match. After a dramatic first over to Ganguly, he dismissed him through a gloved catch in his next, tearing India apart as they staggered to 44 for eight. More weak support bowling enabled Yadav, whose 69 was a oneday international record for a No. 9, and Pathan to add 118. It was only the second ninth-wicket century stand at this level, both by India. The other was an unbroken 126 put on by Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani to set up their famous World Cup comeback at Tunbridge Wells in 1983. This raised visions of a similarly remarkable victory until Bond returned to dismiss Pathan. His figures of six for 19 were New Zealand's best, beating his own six for 23 against Australia in the 2003 World Cup.

Man of the Match: S. E. Bond.