Pair avoid jail over Ryder assault

Wellington - Two New Zealand men who were involved in a bar fight that left former Black Cap Jesse Ryder in an induced coma were handed non-custodial sentences on Wednesday, reports said.

Ryder was injured after an altercation outside a Christchurch pub in March 2013, spending six days in hospital before eventually resuming his cricket career seven months later.

Craig O'Neill was fined $2 250 and sentenced to 250 hours community work, while his nephew Dylan O'Neill was fined NZ$250, the New Zealand Herald reported.