South Africa’s fast bowlers breathed fire at the Perth ground against star-studded India in a crucial T20 World Cup match. Lungi Ngidi led the Proteas in Group 2 on Sunday as he reduced India to two overs and picked up two more, leaving India reeling at the halfway mark after Rohit Sharma elected to bat. first. While his dismissal of India’s top three was more important in the game, it was the dismissal of Hardik Pandya that played a key role. (India vs South Africa Live Score, T20 World Cup 2022)
It happened in India’s ninth over. Ngidi hits it short and straight as Hardik turns hastily but runs into it hard. But his efforts were to no avail as Kagiso Rabada produced an absolute stunner with his superb footwork. As soon as Hardik went for the pull, Rabada swooped in and threw himself forward to collect the ball. After scoring two runs in three balls, Hardik was completely bewildered and panicked as he bounced back.
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It was Ngidi’s fourth wicket in three overs. He is K.L. Rahul and Rohit continued their spell after dismissing Sharma in the first game, after a power play where he dismissed the in-form Virat Kohli. South Africa’s bowlers were impressive against India as Henrich Northje also bowled the wicket of Deepak Hooda as the men in blue were reduced to 49 for five in the ninth over.
India are on the verge of reaching the semi-finals without qualifying for the 2021 T20 World Cup. However, they will be assured of a place if they win two of their remaining three matches, as they did in South Africa.