GROS ISLET, June 11: Lungi Ngidi took 5-19 and Anrich Nortje 4-35 as South Africa bowled out the West Indies for 97 on the opening day of the first cricket test.
Ngidi claimed his second five-wicket bag in tests and his first since his debut against India in 2018 as South Africa ended the West Indies’ first innings in just 40.5 overs after the home side had chosen to bat on winning the toss.
At stumps South Africa was 128-4, a lead of 31 runs, and was able to celebrate a strong start to its first tour of the Caribbean in 11 years.
Ngidi describes his bowling as a “work in progress.” It looked considerably more than that on Thursday as he tore through the South Africa middle and lower order after Nortje had knocked the top of the West Indies innings.
Former captain Jason Holder top-scored with 20 for West Indies, which was 24-0 before wickets started to fall rapidly. At one point the West Indies lost 5-11 in the space of seven overs and Nigidi, who went wicketless in his first spell, took 5-7 when he switched ends.
Ngidi was thrilled to personally see the result of hard work to develop bowling, especially his outswinger, and praised the support he received from his teammates’ catching behind the wicket.
Ngidi showed raw emotion when his fifth wicket came.
Nortje set the West Indies’ downfall in motion, taking three wickets for eight runs as home side tumbled to 48-4 at lunch, with Shai Hope, captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Mayers all out in the first session.
It was a grindingly slow start for the West Indians, who scored at less than two runs an over.
Jermaine Blackwood fell for 1 straight after the lunch break and West Indies faced just 13 overs of the second session before they were all out.
South Africa lost opener Dean Elgar for a duck in the first over of their innings. Elgar is playing his first test as captain.
Keegan Peterson fell with the total 34 before Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen steadied the innings in a partnership of 79 for the third wicket. At lunch on Day 2, Quinton de Kock was batting along side allrounder Wiaan Mulder.
South Africa gave debuts in the series opener to batsmen Keegan Petersen and Kyle Verreynne. West Indies gave a first test cap to seam bowler Jayden Seales. (AP)
