The South African team reached England to create history and is currently playing the World Test Championship final against Australia. After bundling out the Kangaroo team for 212 runs in the first innings, they lost 8 wickets for 144 runs in the second innings as well. Proteas bowler Lungi Ngidi, who was bowled out for just 138 runs in the first innings, claimed that his team is in a better position.

Ngidi faced a lot of criticism for his ordinary bowling on the first day of the WTC 2025 final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's. On Thursday (June 12), on the second day of the only match, he proved his critics wrong with a brilliant bowling performance. The 29-year-old fast bowler from Durban took three wickets for 35 runs in nine overs for the Temba Bavuma-led team and helped restrict Australia to 8 wickets for 144 in the second innings.

Australia's batting broke down.

Australia's pride is not breaking, the captain said - we would have seen if we had come to the WTC final.

Australia's pride is not breaking, the captain said - we would have seen if we had come to the WTC final.

Ngidi opened his wicket account by dismissing Steve Smith (13) LBW and then dismissed Beau Webster (9) as well. After this, he took the wicket of captain Pat Cummins by clean bowling him after scoring six runs. After his performance in the second innings, Ngidi said that his team is hoping to win the WTC 2025 final and the Proteas want to give themselves the best chance.

Coach's words gave courage.

Ngidi said after the second day's play, "We were still in the game. They bowled well for sure but at the end of the day we still had work to do. The coach told us, whatever you do, do it with confidence and if you get out, get out in your own way. You can also be that player who can turn the game around for the team; that was the mindset,"

Ngidi admitted that he struggled in the first innings but found rhythm in the second innings and made full use of it. "It was tough in the first innings, there was no rhythm. It seemed like I was struggling a lot while bowling. Some nerves came back after tea, especially knowing who the guys were in the middle, but Bavuma was telling me to do some things. I just said, let me get into my spell, let me get some rhythm and once I felt it was clicking, I just kept running with it." Will wrap up the Kangaroos in two balls
Talking about the match, Ngidi said, “It was quite exciting, I could hear my name in a corner. That's what really gives you energy when you are bowling such a long spell—the crowd is behind you and you keep going. We are in a good position now, we can wrap it (Australia's innings) in two balls and that's what we are focusing on. If we are chasing less than 230… it won't be easy with the bowling line-up they have, but we want to give ourselves the best chance.”

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