NGIDI REVEALS SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS AFTER PROTEAS OPENING T20 WORLD CUP WIN

Lungi Ngidi believes the key to his recent wicket-taking form is his ability to keep the batters “guessing”.

The Pretoria Capitals seamer, who claimed the maiden Betway SA20 hat-trick last month, was in superb form for the Proteas in their ICC T20 World Cup opening victory against Canada in Ahmedabad.

Ngidi claimed 4/31, including three wickets in the Powerplay, to help restrict the Canadians to 156/8 in response to the Proteas’ 213/4.

He utilised all his skills during the opening spell especially, where he sent down a seam-up quick delivery to have Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa caught behind first ball.

Another length delivery, sliding across the batter, saw to the end of Yuvraj Samra before he dug in a short delivery that Nicholas Kirton miscued to mid-on.

His final wicket of the night was a slower-ball off-cutter that Canada’s top-scorer Harsh Thaker miscued to the third man.

Ngidi tried to explain the method behind his success.

“I think a bit of bounce, presenting the seam well and then obviously being able to bowl slow balls in the Powerplay as well,” he said.

“The guys never know what's coming next so just to keep them guessing but also be very accurate with the new ball.”

Ngidi has been among the Proteas’ leading seam bowlers in T20Is over the past 12 months, sitting just behind MI Cape Town allrounder Corbin Bosch (23 wickets, average 18.6, economy 7.92, best bowling 4/14).

The 29-year-old has 19 wickets at an average of 20.57, economy of 7.56, and is striking at an average of 7.56.

“Look, I think it's the fact that I have to find a way to take wickets. I'm willing to take those risks,” said Ngidi, who was named Player of the Match.

“Yeah, sometimes they go for boundaries, but bowling those risky balls sometimes pay off and they end up in the wickets’ column.

“So that's pretty much the way I play the T20 game and I'm just looking to keep doing more of the same.”

Ngidi will have an opportunity to increase this wicket-tally when the Proteas face Afghanistan in a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinal in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.