Cricket: Pace duo dig toes in and play strong hand

Iain O'Brien grimaces with pain as he receives treatment to his injured finger. Photo / Getty Images

Pace bowlers Shane Bond and Iain O'Brien battled pain barriers to a foot and a hand respectively to lead New Zealand through the final afternoon to the 32-run test victory over Pakistan in Dunedin.

Bond embodied Lillee-type aggression, often expelling low grunts as he ripped through deliveries on the way to man-of-the-match figures of 8-153, taking his tally to 87 in 18 tests at a better-than-Richard-Hadlee average of 22.09.

He did that with the nail ripped off the big toe of his left foot - the one that takes the impact as he bowls.

O'Brien was his usual determined self, often bowling against the westerly wind as it slipped around the grandstand at the University Oval. Occasionally he was given a respite by skipper Daniel Vettori as he eked out his significant three-wicket reward in the second innings.

He then dislocated his right ring finger putting his hand out to stop a Kamran Akmal drive.

Vettori said: "I saw the pain he was in when his eyes welled up, he must've been in agony. So for him to do that and get Akmal's wicket in the next couple of overs, he just kept coming.

"It was a credit to the bowlers fitness in general. We'll probably need Grant [Elliott] to bowl a few more overs in Wellington though."

In hindsight Bond says the call to go in with four bowlers was brave.

"It's the first time I've done that. You bowled a spell then someone else was on and then it was like, Christ, they're going to give me the ball again. I'm pleased I've got through it as well as I have."

However it came with the loss of a left big toe nail due to the pressure on the foot he imparts at the popping crease. He eventually got rid of it after having first pushed a hot paper clip through it to release the pressure.

"It's a little bit sore. I ended up having to hack the nail off but it looks worse than it is."

Vettori said the pair provided the required impetus after tea with Pakistan still sitting in a strong position at 165 for five with 86 runs to get off a possible 36 overs. The Akmal brothers were still at the wicket, having put on 176 for the sixth wicket in the first innings.

"It was all about breaking that partnership so I threw the ball to Obber and Shane to have a crack. It wasn't until the end of that spell that we grabbed the wickets, two in two overs.

"You can't deny their spells, bowling eight or nine overs in a row to bring us into the game. To take four bowlers in and for all of them to step up is perfect."

The potency of Bond also hasn't been lost on Pakistani coach Intikhab Alam.

"To chase 250 wasn't easy. Full credit goes to Shane Bond for the way he bowled."