Ngidi strikes as Proteas eye series win
South Africa are seven wickets away from clinching the Test series against India after reducing the visitors to 35/3 at stumps on day four of the second Test in Centurion on Tuesday.
After setting India a record target of 287 on a difficult pitch, the Proteas got three scalps in the final session with debutant Lungi Ngidi bagging two and Kagiso Rabada taking the other one.
Rabada started the rot as he bowled opener Murali Vijay (9) with a ball that kept low and came off the inside edge onto the stumps.
Lokesh Rahul (4) though will be most disappointed with his shot as he cut Ngidi straight to Keshav Maharaj at backward point to leave the tourists struggling on 16/2.
Ngidi then got the big fish of Virat Kohli, trapping the India captain plumb in front for just 5 to leave the visitors reeling at 26/3.
Kohli, who batted masterfully in the first innings to score 153 in a total of 307, reviewed the decision but it was more out of desperation and replays showed that he was hit in front of middle stump.
India still require another 257 runs to level the series with one match left to play but the home team will be confident of wrapping things up on the fifth day.
Earlier, AB de Villiers made his way to 80 and Dean Elgar scored 61 as the hosts were bowled out for 258 to set India a score that has never been chased in a Test at Centurion.
Captain Faf du Plessis contributed a patient 48 while seamer Mohammed Shami was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with figures of 4-49 in 16 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah also impressed with 3-70 in 20 overs while Ishant Sharma took 2-40 17 overs.
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.