Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada are best mates. But the Proteas seamers are also among the fiercest competitors and enjoy a healthy rivalry.
So, when Ngidi became the first bowler to claim a Betway SA20 hat-trick on Wednesday evening, he could not wait to get off the field to let Rabada know that he too had joined the exclusive club.
Rabada is, of course, already a member after his three-peat at the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup against England in Sharjah.
“I definitely didn’t know it was the first hat-trick in the Betway SA20. I knew it was my first one, but since you guys have let me know, I think once I get my phone, I’ll just send him a little message asking if he saw that,” Ngidi said after his 3/39 helped the Pretoria Capitals close out a 15-run victory over Durban’s Super Giants.
Ngidi’s hat-trick occurred at a critical juncture of DSG’s run chase. The visitors required 42 runs off 17 balls, but had in-form Jos Buttler at the crease with the Englishman having just taken 15 runs of the previous Lizaad Williams over.
But Ngidi held his nerve by having David Wiese followed by Sunil Narine and Gerald Coetzee all caught in the deep.
The 29-year-old though did not want to get too carried away with the feat, preferring to focus on what he needs to improve in the next game after being put under pressure in his opening spell.
“I think in the context of the game, obviously it was massive, but I’m not particularly happy with the way I bowled tonight. It could have been a lot better in the Powerplay, and that over I came back in the middle.
The message was that the cutters were gripping in the wicket. There was a bit of shape with the ball, so we could hold length for as long as possible.
“And that’s, I think, why I’m not smiling as much. I think I let myself down in that, and I pride myself on hitting a good length, swinging the ball. And I went away from that in the Powerplay, so that’s upsetting.
“But obviously the game is never over until the fat lady sings. So the guys were telling me I’ve still got a big over to bowl, and I knew obviously the game was on the line. And then just focus on what I do best, and that’s slower bowls and bounces. And it worked out well, so I’m very happy.”
Ngidi believes it’s his experience that carries him through the tough moments, and which allows him to bounce back. This will, of course, be crucial moving ahead with Ngidi an integral part of the Proteas bowling attack at next month’s ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
“When the ball is flying around like this, the only way I find keeping my emotions in check is accepting that this has been happening for years. I’ve been playing the game for a lot of years now, and I’ve been hit for sixes before. So once it happens, you can’t change it, move on to the next ball.
“That’s the best way to deal with it. Obviously emotions are high when you’re out in the field. I just needed to go take a moment by myself down there, calm it down, think clearly about my next plan and how I was going to execute that.
“But yeah, that’s pretty much how I try to stay in the game.”
