Pakistan came within touching distance in the first Test in Dunedin. But fortunately Shane Bond will not feature in the second Test beginning in Wellington.
The Dunedin Test witnessed Pakistan chase a target of 251 and fall short by thirty-two runs. In that sensational win for New Zealand was the inclusion of Shane Bond after missing out on New Zealand cricket action for two years where he joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL). His outstanding match figures of eight wickets even earned him the Man of the Match.
Bond was amongst those instrumental, including Iain O’Brien who had three wickets on that crucial final day’s play, in wrecking the Pakistan charge. Umar Akmal added another seventy-five runs to his match tally in the second innings after scoring eighty-two runs in the first in a partnership with his brother, Kamran Akmal.
Pakistan will be smarting from the defeat while New Zealand will feel like they have been given another lease of life. But having said that, New Zealand must now strategize around the absence of Bond whose abdominal worry has turned into a one centimetre tear and he will play no further part in the remaining two Tests.
It is time for Chris Martin and Iain O’Brien to step up as Pakistan will look to hurt the hosts in Bond’s absence. Perhaps Grant Elliot will get his desire to show more strength with the ball. For Pakistan, it is back to the drawing board.
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