Ngidi has arrived
MOMENT OF MAGIC: NEW CAP EFFECTS BRILLIANT RUN-OUT OF PUJARA
Indian skipper Kohli holds up the Proteas with fine 85.
8 years ago, the Proteas thrilled the Wanderers against New Zealand by having two young black fast bowlers, Makhaya Ntini and Mfuneko Ngam, bowling together.
Those memories came flooding back yesterday when South Africa were dismissed for 335 in their first innings of the second Test against India in Centurion.
The scene was set for history to repeat itself: Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, ready to terrorise.
In a way, that objective was achieved to an extent as India ended the day on 183/5.
But the fairy-tale many had wanted didn’t happen.
Rabada (1/33) and Ngidi (1/26) bowled together for eight overs but the overall impression was that they contributed separately from each other.
Ngidi, on debut, made an immediate impact with an excellent run-out.
Cheteshwar Pujara flicked a delivery just to the right of the 21-year-old Titans rookie at midon and fancied a single.
Yet Ngidi, on his knees, swivelled brilliantly and hit the stumps on the bounce.
“I didn’t think he was going to run,” he said dryly.
“I actually had to orientate myself but when I saw him halfway down, I just took my chance.”
With the first ball of his second spell, Ngidi would’ve had the key wicket of Virat Kohli on 71 as his maiden Test scalp but the Indian captain managed an edge before being hit on the pad.
He didn’t wait too long after that as his switch around the wicket snared Parthiv Patel.
It was a lovely delivery, aimed at off but moving away as Quinton de Kock completed the grab.
“It’s a dream come true, I still have goosebumps. And the way I took it made me really happy. I actually made a plan with a legend like Vernon Philander and execut- ed it,” said Ngidi.
In all fairness, Rabada didn’t have a particularly venomous day but did exploit Rohit Sharma’s front foot technique again by trapping him LBW.
Despite making headway, the Proteas still have to dislodge Kohli, whose unbeaten 85 started brightly before becoming a bit more attritional.
That said, it was still pretty good to look at.
Earlier, Du Plessis was typically dogged in being at the forefront of South Africa’s defiance with the bat.
He marshalled the lower order pretty effectively in compiling his 63 as the hosts partially atoned for their meltdown at the end of day one.