New Zealand: Bond delivers fine all-round display (5 October 1998)

5 October 1998

New Zealand: Bond delivers fine all-round display

The Christchurch Press

Shane Bond signalled his readiness for a return to Canterbury ranks with a compelling all-round display on the opening day of the WestpacTrust Trophy club cricket competition.

Bond bowled his medium-fast deliveries impressively and capped the day by top scoring with a bold 65 which led High School Old Boys to first innings points against St Albans at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

Bond was sidelined from the bowling crease by a stress fracture in his back in December and only returned to the game as a batsman near the season's end.

He was part of a powerful four-pronged Old Boys pace attack which dismissed St Albans for a meagre 88.

However, batting was not straightforward on a wicket which favoured the seamers after rain the previous day.

Bond has been training with club and representative team-mate Geoff Allott who also had a memorable start to the season with two wickets in his first over.

The wickets were shared by the seamers and, of the St Albans batsmen, only John Davidson and James Ward reached 20. Boundaries were few on the soft and slow outfield with only three fours in the innings.

The Old Boys innings was steadied by opener Jeremy Innes who compiled 48 runs in two hours. Bond then adopted the direct approach and his lusty 65 came from just 48 balls with eight fours and three sixes.

Bond said he was going to miss the first few hours next Saturday and wanted to score as quickly as possible. "But anyway my approach is if the ball is there to hit give it a go."

Northland newcomer Stephen Cunis had a useful start to his local club career with a five-wicket haul for St Albans, capturing wickets at regular intervals with his medium pacers.

On Hagley 3, defending champion Riccarton was involved in a low-scoring battle for first-innings points against Sydenham. Sydenham's 105 was held together by a fluent innings of 55 from new recruit Hamish Barton. Barton was a batting beacon for his team, the remainder of whom were unable to reach double figures from 70.3 overs at the crease. Again the seamers prospered with Darren Walker and Hayden Shaw, a newcomer from Shirley Boys' High, most successful.

Riccarton also struggled at its turn to bat, but at stumps looked more likely to claim the first innings advantage with English professional Aftab Habib unbeaten on 22.

Play began two hours late at Burnside Park, and Old Collegians, having been sent in by the home side, was soon in trouble at 22 for four.

At first the pitch had uneven bounce and variable pace and Burnside's Mark Hastings and Campbell Ogilvie seamed the ball sharply.

Mike McIntyre brought some stability with a solid 31 and, with Mark Rountree, added 50 for the fifth wicket. Old Collegians wickets again fell regularly but captain Andrew Hughes and No. 11 Simon Harding hit out with a lastwicket stand of 52. The pitch played more easily later in the innings, with Hughes hitting three boundaries and scoring his unbeaten 48 from 80 balls. Burnside-West's opening batsmen faced five overs before bad light stopped play at 6.10pm.

Scott Pawson, the East-Shirley captain, is certain not to regret winning the toss and putting Marist in at Burwood Park. Marist was dismissed for 54.

East had a couple of good opening bowlers in Michael Ford and David O'Neill. Then, Nathan Astle, making a rare club appearance, took a hand bowling his medium-pacers.

When East batted, Tom Music played a patient innings seeing his side through to a first innings lead. He was out to a fine running catch by Simon Granger. Craig McMillan showed his class until becoming a victim of impatience and Astle hit some powerful blows. Scott Pawson and Marcel McKenzie, with a 63-run stand, consolidated attractively.

St Albans 88 v HSOB 152-7 (Shane Bond 65; Stephen Cunis 5-35);
Sydenham 105 (Hamish Barton 55) v Riccarton 77-5;
Marist 54 v East-Shirley 151-5;
Old Collegians 174-9 dec v Burnside-West University 3-0

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)