South African pacer Lungi Ngidi etched his name alongside legend Dale Steyn by becoming the joint third-highest wicket-taker for the Proteas in T20 Internationals during their five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the Tri-Series opener on Monday.
Ngidi’s disciplined spell (1/15 in 4 overs) saw him equal Steyn’s tally of 64 T20I wickets, achieving the feat in just 44 matches—three fewer than Steyn. His lone wicket came in a slice of fortune as Wessly Madheve’s back foot clipped the stumps, resulting in a hit-wicket dismissal.
Top SA T20I Wicket-Takers:
- Tabraiz Shamsi – 89 wickets (70 matches)
- Kagiso Rabada – 71 wickets (65 matches)
- Dale Steyn & Lungi Ngidi – 64 wickets
Zimbabwe: Raza Rescues a Shaky Start
Put in to bat, Zimbabwe collapsed early, but skipper Sikandar Raza (54 off 38)* staged a solid recovery. Supported by Ryan Burl (29 off 20), the pair added a 66-run partnership, taking Zimbabwe to a modest 141/6.
South Africa’s Chase: Brevis & Hermann Shine
Chasing 142, South Africa stumbled to 38/3 in the powerplay, losing Lhuan-dre Pretorious (0), Reeza Hendricks (11), and Rassie van der Dussen (16) cheaply.
Debutant Rubin Hermann (45 off 37) played with poise while Dewald Brevis (41 off 17) unleashed a brutal counterattack. His three consecutive sixes off Burl changed the game’s momentum before he was dismissed trying for one too many.
Corbin Bosch and George Linde calmly wrapped up the chase with 26 balls remaining, ensuring South Africa started the series on a dominant note.
Match Summary:
Zimbabwe: 141/6 (Raza 54*, Burl 29; Ngidi 1/15)
South Africa: 144/5 in 15.4 overs (Hermann 45, Brevis 41; Ngarava 2 wickets)
Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets
Ngidi’s milestone, Brevis’ fireworks, and Hermann’s mature knock marked a clinical performance by the Proteas, as they aim to dominate the tri-nation series.