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Ngidi picked up three wickets for 35 runs in nine overs for South Africa on Thursday and helped them make a super comeback in the WTC 2025 final.
Lungi Ngidi celebrates after taking Pat Cummins’ wicket on Day 2 of WTC 2025 final at Lord’s. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Lungi Ngidi faced a lot of criticism for his ordinary bowling performance in the first innings of the WTC 2025 final currently underway between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s, but on Thursday (June 12), during the second day’s play of the one-off match, he turned his doubters into believers by producing a super show with the ball. The 29-year-old fast bowler from Durban picked up three wickets for 35 runs in nine overs for the Temba Bavuma-led side and helped them reduce the Aussies to 144 for 8 in the 2nd innings.
Ngidi opened his wicket account by trapping Steve Smith (13) in front of the wickets on the fifth ball of the 19th over and then removed Beau Webster (9). Like Smith, Webster was also adjudged LBW out. On the fifth ball of his next over, Ngidi picked his third wicket in the form of Pat Cummins, who was clean bowled for six runs from five balls.
After impressing with his performances in the second innings, Ngidi said that his team is hopeful about winning the WTC 2025 final and the Proteas want to give themselves the best chance.
“We were still in the game. They did bowl really well, but at the end of the day we still had a job to do,” said Ngidi during the post-day interaction.
“The coach asked us, whatever we do, to do it with conviction, and if you go out, go out on your own terms. You can also be that guy to turn the game around for the team; that was the mindset,” he added.
According to Ngidi, he struggled in the first innings but got rhythm in the second, and he made the most of it.
“It was tough in the first innings; there was no rhythm, and it looked like I was fighting a lot while bowling. A couple of nerves came back after tea, especially knowing who the guys were in the middle, but he (Bavuma) was asking me to do certain things. I just said, “Let me get into my spell, let me get some rhythm,” and once I felt it was clicking, I just kept running with it.”
“It was pretty exciting; I could hear my name in one of the corners. That’s what actually gives you energy when you are bowling such a long spell—the crowd gets behind you and you keep going.”
Speaking about the match, Ngidi said, “We are in a good position now; two balls can wrap it (Aus innings) up, and we are focusing on that. If we are chasing anything under 230… It won’t be easy with the bowling line-up they have, but we want to give ourselves the best chance.”
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London, United Kingdom (UK)
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