In a stunning passage of play that reignited South Africa’s hopes and flipped the World Test Championship Final on its head, Lungi Ngidi led a ferocious bowling effort to dismantle Australia’s second innings at Lord’s. The towering pacer, often operating in the shadows of the more aggressive Anrich Nortje and flamboyant Marco Jansen, delivered a game-changing spell on Day 3 that saw Australia collapse dramatically, leaving the match tantalisingly poised heading into the final two days.
Australia, who had taken a slender first-innings lead, began their second innings cautiously under cloudy skies and fading light. With conditions offering seam movement and uneven bounce, the stage was set for South Africa’s bowlers to make an early impact. Lungi Ngidi answered the call with precision, patience, and persistence.
He struck early to remove the dangerous Usman Khawaja, nipping one back through the gate with a textbook seam delivery. The next breakthrough came just as Marnus Labuschagne looked to settle. Ngidi, extracting bounce and angling one in from wide of the crease, found the edge to give South Africa a crucial wicket. The tempo of the match changed noticeably after that.
Ngidi’s rhythm was relentless. Unlike some of his previous spells where he focused on containment, this time he hunted wickets—and succeeded. Steve Smith, looking confident after a solid start, was undone by a ball that straightened after pitching, catching the outside edge on its way to second slip. The celebration that followed from the South Africans was one of raw energy—they knew the match had taken a turn.
At the other end, Rabada and Jansen kept the pressure simmering. But it was Ngidi who continued to break the spine of the Australian innings. When he had Travis Head caught behind for a duck, South Africa had not only wrestled back control but thrown the final wide open. Australia, from a position of moderate safety, had collapsed into crisis mode.
The middle and lower order offered little resistance. The scoreboard pressure combined with Ngidi’s relentless probing meant even well-set batters found it hard to rotate strike or settle in. Pat Cummins, Australia’s first-innings saviour, attempted a brief counterattack but was cleaned up by a Jansen inswinger. Australia were eventually bundled out for a surprisingly low total, giving South Africa a golden opportunity to chase a manageable target.
Ngidi finished with figures that reflected his dominance, but beyond the numbers, it was his spell that transformed the match’s trajectory. Often overlooked in headline-grabbing moments, Ngidi reminded the world of his class and ability to produce on the biggest stage.
At the close of play, the South African camp was visibly energised. From being on the back foot after Day 2, they now stare at a realistic chance to claim the WTC title. The target may still be challenging, and Australia will fight hard with their own pace arsenal, but thanks to Ngidi’s brilliance, the Proteas walk into Day 4 with belief, momentum, and a golden opportunity.
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