WATCH: Lungi Ngidi rocks India’s top order with twin strikes, Cheteshwar Pujara departs for a golden duck


WATCH: Lungi Ngidi rocks India’s top order with twin strikes, Cheteshwar Pujara departs for a golden duck

Lungi Ngidi and Cheteshwar Pujara

Following a shaky start, South Africa have found their way into the Boxing Day Test match. Lungi Ngidi bagged two wickets in as many balls to give the Proteas a chance to bounce back. Winning the toss India decided to bat first and the openers made merry against the new ball with a century stand.

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The South African bowlers struggled to get their line and lengths right in the first session as KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal brought up their half-centuries. The only chance before lunch came off debutant Marco Jansen‘s bowling but Quinton De Kock grounded it giving Mayank a life.

Lungi Ngidi bags two in two as Proteas claw back

Lungi Ngidi celebrates
Lungi Ngidi celebrates

Lungi Ngidi sent back Mayank Agarwal with a brilliant inswinger in the 41st over. The Indian opener was hit on the pad but the umpire turned down the appeal. Skipper Dean Elgar went upstairs and he was right to do so. Mayank was adjudged out as India lost their first wicket. Agarwal trudged back after a well made 60 off 123 balls.

The very next ball, Ngidi comes up with yet another inswinger and that is the end of Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara inside-edged it straight onto his pads. The ball looped up and Keegan Petersen took a great diving catch at short leg. No mistake this time and the Indian batter was dismissed for a golden duck. Pujara has been struggling for quite some time now and will have to find his groove before it’s too late.

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The onus is now on the shoulders of skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. The conditions are good for batting and it is the perfect opportunity for Kohli to get back in the act and bring up the much-awaited century. The duo will have to bat well into the second day if India is to put up a daunting first innings total on the board.

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