NZ CRICKET

The BLACKCAPS completed a 216-run win inside three days over a South Africa Invitational XI at Bloemfontein.

Shane Bond took three for 26 as the hosts, chasing 208 for victory, were skittled out for 91 with eight overs of the penultimate day to spare.

Jacob Oram followed his first innings four-for with two more wickets, with Chris Martin and captain Daniel Vettori also striking twice each.

The South Africans were buoyed by removing the tourists for 145, with Craig Cumming’s 67 the stalwart performance of the BLACKCAPS second innings.

Opener Cumming’s knock came from 121 balls but included 14 fours.

It was the outstanding contribution from the Kiwis’ batting order, of which only Oram (12), Brendon McCullum (18) and Vettori (10) also made double figures.

And where Jon Kent and Ethy Mbhalati had cut through the visitors’ batting, Bond followed suit.

The right-arm pacer instigated a top-order collapse which, tumbling in six evening-session overs from 26 for one, to 44 for five.

Vettori and Martin then completed the match by dispatching the lower orders.

The BLACKCAPS final tour match before their Test double header with the Proteas is a four-day match against South Africa A, in Potchefstroom commencing Thursday