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Bond returns with a bang as New Zealand beat Pak
Pakistan teenager Umar Akmal's heroics went in vain as New Zealand won the first Test by 32 runs with the help of Shane Bond's 8-wicket match haul.
- NDTV
- Updated: November 28, 2009 08:41 am IST
Read Time: 2 min
Shane Bond, who returned to Test cricket after a hiatus of two years, had a five-wicket haul in the first innings, while he picked three wickets in the second to wreak havoc in the Pakistan camp.
Electing to field first, Pakistan was in the drivers' seat after removing the New Zealand top order. However, Ross Taylor (94) and later captain Daniel Vettori played valiant knocks to restore their team's position in the match. The Kiwi team made 429 runs with considerable contribution from Martin Guptill (60) and Brendon McCullum (78).
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Apart from Shane Bond, it was also a comeback match for another fast bowler - Mohammad Asif, who too picked 8 wickets in the match - 4 in each innings.
In reply, Pakistan was bundled out for 332 runs. The only noteworthy contributions came from the two Akmals - Umar and Kamran. While Umar slammed a ton on his debut, Kamran made 82 runs. And the destructor-in charge was Bond who never let any Pak batsman to settle down. After Chris Martin removed the openers, Bond took over to unsettle Yousuf and Co.
In the second innings, New Zealand could make just 153 runs Pak pacers were up for the challenge. While Asif picked four wickets, Umar Gul picked three. Only three New Zealanders could score in double-digits, highest being 59 from Ross Taylor. They made just 153 runs and set a final total of 251 for Pakistan.
The match was evenly poised for the final day. Pakistan started the chase, but Bond had some other ideas as he struck early on to remove opener Khurram Manzoor for just 4 runs. Two runs later Martin dismissed Imran Farhat for 1 run. Soon Pakistan were reeling at 24-3. Skipper Mohd Yousuf and Umar Akmal somewhat consolidated the innings before Martin struck again to remove the captain for 41 runs.
Akmal, however, continued the fight only to be curtailed by Man of the Match Shane Bond for 75 runs. None after his fall could really do much to save Pakistan from the clutches of defeat and were all out for 218 runs.
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