Bond on fire: Best bowling spells delivered by Shane Bond

Shane Bond is considered among the finest fast bowlers in the history of New Zealand. He could not enjoy a long career due to injuries but impressed everyone in the matches he played at the highest level. Bond is celebrating his 46th birthday today. After his retirement, he has been seen in coaching roles, and currently, he is the bowling coach of Mumbai Indians in IPL. In this article, we are going to discuss the three best spells of Shane Bond in International cricket.

5/25 vs Australia, ODI, 2002

In this ODI match played in 2002, New Zealand scored 242/5 after electing to bat first. For them, Nathan Astle scored 95 runs off 135 balls. The Kiwi team needed a good performance from their bowlers to defend this total, and Shane Bond did exactly that. Australia were reduced to 26/4 by the 8th over with Bond picking up three of these wickets. He took 5 wickets for 25 runs in 9.2 overs as Australia got dismissed for 165 runs.

6/19 vs India, ODI, 2005

In this ODI game played in 2005, the Kiwi team got all-out for only 215 runs in 43.1 overs. India were looking ahead after the end of the first innings but Shane Bond had other plans. He wreaked havoc with the ball picking up 6 wickets for 19 runs. India were 44/8 at one stage but JP Yadav and Irfan Pathan added 118 runs for the 9th wicket. New Zealand won this match by 51 runs in the end with Shane Bond winning the player of the match award.

5/69 vs West Indies, Test, 2006

In this Test match played in 2006, New Zealand set a target of 291 runs for the West Indies in the fourth innings. In response, West Indies were 148/0 at one stage and were cruising to a win. However, Shane Bond brought his side back in the game and picked up 5 wickets for 69 runs. West Indies team was dismissed for 263 runs in the end, and Shane Bond was adjudged player of the match.

6/23 vs Australia, 2003 World Cup

Australia were a supreme force in the 2003 World Cup but Bond served them a spell to remember. In this group stage game in Port Elizabeth, the Blackcaps pacer bowled with fire and dismantled the Aussies. His spell saw Australia crashing to 84/7. Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel stitched a match-saving partnership as Bond finished with the figures of 6/23 from his 10 overs. New Zealand, in return, were shot down for just 112 runs.