Bond thrills Hampshire

Shane Bond made a dream start to his Hampshire career on day one © Getty Images

Shane Bond was relieved and elated after getting his Hampshire career off to a near perfect start with a career-best 7-66 at the Rose Bowl.

The New Zealand fast bowler received ECB clearance last week to play for his new employers, despite his links with Indian Twenty20.

He admitted to nerves early on - and was unable to prevent Murray Goodwin hitting 121 for Sussex - but he came back with an irresistible spell with the second new ball, taking five wickets for five runs as the LV Division One champions faltered from 317 for four to 332 all out on day one of the new season.

After Hampshire had replied with four for one at stumps, Bond could reflect on his new club's best first-class bowling figures by a debutant since 1899.

"I'm stoked with today. It went really well," he said.

"It relieves a little bit of anxiety. Especially as an overseas player, you feel like you need to put a good performance on the ball early.

"I was looking forward to having a day on the park - and then, of course, you want to get a wicket out of the way early."

Bond hopes he has given Hampshire spectators an early indication of what he can achieve in what is expected to be a two-month stay this summer.

"It's nice to show the spectators what I'm capable of. I hope I can continue in the same vein from here," he added.

"It wasn't an easy wicket (for bowlers) - it was pretty slow.

"But then at the end it started to swing with the second new ball, and all of a sudden things got exciting for me.

"It just suddenly started to hoop, and that was the big difference."