Six of the best for Lungi Ngidi as Proteas clinch series win

To say the Proteas have unearthed a gem in Lungi Ngidi is actually not quite accurate.

Yes, the rookie quick – on his Test debut – played a starring role in handing his team an early series win over India with a spell of 6/39 in the second Test in Centurion on Wednesday.

But local cricket fans have actually known for some time that Ngidi is capable of this.

It feels like ages but a year ago, the 21-year-old did actually take international cricket by storm.

He took six wickets – including 4/19 at the Wanderers – in two T20s against Sri Lanka before injuries struck.

What this current haul then really is, is supporters’ excitement about what he is capable of.

And Ngidi has confirmed it.

Following his game-breaking burst on Tuesday evening, he added to his tally by having the dangerous Hardik Pandya caught at slip.

It wasn’t a particularly pretty dismissal as Pandya tried a ramp shot off a wide ball.

Ngidi then had Ravi Ashwin caught behind with a good length ball that shaped away.

The platform for those wickets were laid early though.

Cheteshwar Pujara became the first Indian to be run out twice in a Test match – and only the second overall this century – after he narrowly failed to beat Keshav Maharaj’s throw after running a third.

A dogged Parthiv Patel (19) then fell to a magnificent catch at deep fine leg by Morne Morkel, who dived brilliantly after Kagiso Rabada (3/47) lulled the left-hander into a hook.

But a sprightly, unbeaten partnership of 54 between Rohit Sharma (47) and Mohammed Shami (28) frustrated the the Proteas.

That period of play was characterised by some questionable tactics before Faf du Plessis devised an obvious plan for Sharma by trying to lull him into the pull-shot.

Sharma wasn’t backing down and almost fell when Hashim Amla couldn’t hold on to a sharp chance at square leg.

A hook off Rabada though couldn’t be controlled as AB de Villiers completed another stunning grab diving forward before Shami and Jasprit Bumrah gifted Ngidi his five-for with tame shots.

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