Proteas paceman Ngidi makes ‘dream’ debut despite missing out on Kohli wicket
South Africa ended Day 2 of the second Test at Centurion yesterday ahead of India, yet fast bowler Lungi Ngidi rued not being able to take the wicket of Virat Kohli on his first day out for his country.
Captain Kohli stood firm against a relentless Proteas bowling attack at SuperSport Park, scoring 85 not out as India reached 183-5 at the close in reply to South Africa’s first-innings total of 335.
It was tough going for both batsmen and bowlers on a slow pitch on a hot day. But late in the proceedings Kohli was saved by a faint inside edge on a ball from Ngidi that went crashing into his stumps.
The well-built Ngidi was one of four bowlers to take a wicket each, having dismissed Parthiv Patel. He bowled at an impressive pace, clocking 150.5 km/h.
“I thought I had him,” Ngidi said of the failed review. “I thought he had hit the ground. I was very confident and when I saw that edge I kind of dropped a bit.
“When I bowled my first spell I hit his pads a few times so I thought that was a vulnerable area for him.
“He kept shifting across and getting into my bowling line so I thought, maybe shoot one in at the stumps and see what happens. I nearly got him.”
Despite his disappointment Ngidi, 21, said his Test debut was a “dream come true”.
South Africa’s paceman operated in short spells while leftarm spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled a lengthy spell and broke the biggest partnership of the innings when he had Murali Vijay caught behind for 46.
Vijay and Kohli put on 79 for the third wicket after two wickets fell in two balls with the total on 28 as Lokesh Rahul fell to a sharp return catch to Morne Morkel and Cheteshwar Pujara was run out attempting a single off the first ball he faced.
Pujara played Morkel to midon and set off for a run.
Ngidi made good ground, slid to pick up the ball and hit the stumps at the bowler’s end from a prone position.
“I didn’t think he was going to run,” Ngidi said. “When he hit it I wasn’t even looking at him, I was still trying to figure out which angle the ball was coming.
“When I got there I slipped a bit but I saw he was halfway down the wicket and I took my chance.”
Earlier, South Africa captain Faf du Plessis made 63 as he battled for 217 minutes and faced 142 balls before he was ninth man out, bowled when he went for a big hit against Ishant Sharma.
South Africa added 66 runs to their overnight 269-6.
Ishant took two of the four wickets that fell, finishing with 3-46 and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took 4-113.
India dropped three catches, all off Ashwin – Kagiso Rabada was twice the beneficiary, while Du Plessis got one reprieve.
South Africa lead the tree-Test series 1-0.