Proteas look to sustain winning momentum in ODI against Sri Lanka

The South African cricket team will look to continue their winning ways in the second One-Day International match against Sri Lanka in Centurion on Wednesday.

For young fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, this is another opportunity to cement his place in the all-important World Cup squad.

Ngidi made his first appearance in the green and gold in the series opener at the Wanderers on Sunday after almost four months on the sidelines following the knee injury he picked up against Australia in November.

While the seamer showed no discomfort on his return, picking up three wickets for 60 runs in his 10 overs, he acknowledged that he’s not yet hit his straps.

“Yeah, upfront it wasn’t the best, but coming away with two wickets I’ll take that. It could have been a lot better in the middle, that’s where I let it go a bit, but coming back to close off the innings as well I was happy with that for a first performance after injury. I’ll take three for 60 in 10, we were able to bowl them out for less than 250 all in all; for a comeback, I’ll take that.”

This will be the final series for the Proteas before the start of the Cricket World Cup in just under three months’ time, where the Proteas will get proceedings underway in the opening match against hosts England.

There’s no doubt that there is healthy competition among the long line of fast bowlers that coach Otis Gibson has assembled, but for the Durban-born quick who’s taken 29 wickets in his 14 outings for the Proteas in one day cricket, the mission is simple; take wickets upfront and hunt as a pack.

“My job is very clear to me. I bowl upfront with the new ball and my job is to take wickets. That’s the only thing going through my head at the top of my mark. KG has the same role. He also a strike bowler to be honest all our bowlers can take wickets our main job is to bowl teams out.”

The match is day-nighter and gets under way at 13:00.