Cricket: Bond strikes takes 5 for 11 in first session

New Zealand express bowler Shane Bond skittled Zimbabwe in the first morning of the second cricket test, taking five wickets for just 11 runs to reduce the home side to 75 for six by lunch.

Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat first at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Bond knocked off the top order, taking the wickets of Dion Ebrahim (0), Brendan Taylor (37), Stuart Carlisle (1) and Hamilton Masakadza (0) in succession before James Franklin had dangerman Craig Wishart (30) caught. Bond stepped in again and sent Heath Streak packing without scoring.

Zimbabwean captain Tatenda Taibu won the toss for what shapes up as one of the most important test matches for his team.

Zimbabwe's test status has come under increasing debate, especially after last week's defeat by an innings and 294 runs at the hands of Stephen Fleming's men.

There is a growing opinion that Zimbabwe's test status should be removed.

New Zealand went to Zimbabwe after weeks of controversy in which the New Zealand government tried to persuade the country's cricket authority to abandon the tour because of President Robert Mugabe's policies.

Taibu was one not out with debutant Keith Dabengwa yet to score.

Bond trapped Ebrahim in front with the second ball of the match and without a run on the board.

Six balls later he removed Carlisle in similar fashion, and in his next over he induced a top-edged hook from Masakadza that flew to Chris Martin at fine leg.

The pitch was flat and true and there was no hint of swing, but Bond profited by bowling his express deliveries at a full length to dismiss Ebrahim and Carlisle, and extracting just enough bounce to force Masakadza into a false stroke.

The rest of the New Zealand pace attack failed to trouble the batsmen to a similar degree in their first spells.

Left-arm fast bowler James Franklin was inconsistent, while change bowlers Martin and Scott Styris looked innocuous.

Taylor and Wishart batted defensively but solidly and took their steadying stand to 58 before Wishart drove at a delivery from Franklin and was smartly caught by Nathan Astle diving low to his right in the gully.

Wishart, who scored 30, opened his shoulders towards the end of his innings to hit five boundaries.

Bond returned for a second spell before lunch, and had Taylor and Heath Streak caught behind by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum with successive deliveries.

Dabengwa comfortably kept out Bond's would be hat-trick delivery.

Taylor showed composure in scoring his 37, which included eight fours.

Bond's previous career-best performance was the five for 78 he took against the West Indies in Barbados in 2002.

New Zealand won the first test within two days.

Zimbabwe

First innings

D Ebrahim lbw b Bond 0
B Taylor c McCullum b Bond 37
S Carlisle lbw b Bond 1
H Masakadza c Martin b Bond 0
C Wishart c Astle b Franklin 30
T Taibu not out 1
H Streak c McCullum b Bond 0
K Dabengwa not out 0
Extras (3lb, 3nb) 6
Total (for 6 wkts, 28 overs) 75

Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-3 3-7 4-65 5-74 6-74
Bowling: S Bond 7-3-11-5, J Franklin 7-2-24-1 (1nb),C Martin 5-1-26-0 (1nb), S Styris 4-2-9-0, D Vettori 5-3-2-0- NZPA