Bond’s return to international cricket spoiled by Dilshan

COLOMBO - New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond must have been relishing thoughts of returning to the international cricket arena after a gap of two-years, but Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan spoiled it.

Dilshan hit four boundaries in Bond’s first over during his innings of 57 from 28 balls in the Twenty20 international that was played on Wednesday.

“You always think guys are going to take a couple of balls to get into it, so yeah, it sort of surprised me. I’ve played him in the past and he’s never played as freely as that,” Stuff.co.nz quoted Bond, as saying.

“I always actually enjoyed bowling to him, I’ve got him out a few times. Obviously it’s been a couple of years. So, like all batters, they mature,” he added.

The 34-year-old further said that his first over in the match was a learning experience for him, as he now knows how to adapt to the situation.

“It wasn’t too bad, it was fun. I obviously had to make some adjustments to Dilshan, who played pretty well,” Bond said.

“First and foremost I had to tidy up the lines I bowl to him. I definitely know what I have to do in the next game,” he added.

Though, Bond didn’t have a perfect beginning, he did finish the match with a respectable figure of none for 27 from four overs. (ANI)