India vs South Africa News: Virat Kohli’s team suffer horror collapse in Centurion

KL Rahul’s century on day 1 had put India in pole position against South Africa at Centurion. With a washout on day 3, India was expected to consolidate their advantage. But, Lungi Ngidi’s haul of 6/71 resulted in India collapsing from 272/3 to 327 all out. KL Rahul could not add much to his overnight score as India was once again plagued with a collapse overseas. However, the bowling unit stepped up as Jasprit Bumrah sent back South Africa skipper Dean Elgar for 2 in the first over of the Proteas’ chase.

For Lungi Ngidi, it was deja-vu all over again against India at the same venue. Three years earlier, Ngidi took 6/39 in Centurion as the Proteas sealed a series win against India, thus denying Kohli’s side a first-ever series win. In 2021, he bowled the perfect length and he was helped by the Indian players not able to put a big price on their wickets.

India collapse in a heap against South Africa

Before the damage by Lungi Ngidi, it was Kagiso Rabada who opened the floodgates for South Africa. In just the fourth over of the day, Rabada managed to send back KL Rahul for 123 with a short ball. The batsman got a top edge and Quinton de Kock took the catch. For the second time in the year, Rahul could not convert his overnight century into a big score. In Lord’s, Rahul was not out on 127 but he fell for 129 the next day. The same happened in Centurion.

Read | India vs South Africa: Proteas’ dominance over Men in Blue at home will continue, says Makhaya Ntini

Rishabh Pant and Rahane looked to be aggressive with a couple of boundaries. But, South Africa managed to get some lift from the good length area as the bowlers exploited the conditions well. Ngidi got one short delivery to rise up and Rahane edged the cut to de Kock for 48. With both overnight batsmen gone, the rest of the batting folded cheaply.

Ravichandran Ashwin then got a leading edge to a full delivery from Rabada as he was caught at cover for 4 attempting to flick. With Pant looking to go after the bowling, Ngidi asked skipper Elgar to put a man at short leg. The bowler got extra bounce and Pant could only pop the catch to short leg as he fell cheaply.

Ngidi celebrated his five-wicket haul and Rabada followed suit when he got Shardul Thakur edging the drive to de Kock.

South Africa end the misery for India

When Ngidi took his sixth wicket, South Africa had turned the entire course of the match. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami then frustrated South Africa with some clean hitting. Bumrah attacked Marco Jansen as he hit a couple of boundaries off him. But, it was Jansen who got the last laugh as Bumrah poked a back of a length ball angled across to gully. India’s innings ended but they were determined.

Bumrah struck in his very first over as he got Elgar with a delivery that seamed away from outside off. The edge carried to first slip but keeper Rishabh Pant dived to his left to take a stunning catch. Since then, Aiden Markram and Keegan Petersen steadied the innings with some solid batting.