LONDON: The Proteas’ date with destiny has arrived quicker than they might have envisioned.
But they need just two wickets – which should have been one had Marco Jansen not shelled a catch in the gully in the final over of an absorbing second day – before they begin a run-chase that will decide their fate in this utterly enthralling World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s.
Led by their brilliant captain Pat Cummins (6/28), Australia kept their hands firmly on the ICC golden mace they won two years ago by skittling the Proteas for just 138 in response to their 212 on Thursday.
But like the Proteas have shown throughout this WTC cycle to earn their spot in this Lord’s showpiece, they jumped back up from the canvas through the most unlikely of characters, with Lungi Ngidi delivering an inspired nine-over spell to finish with figures of 3/35 to reduce Australia to 144/8 – an overall lead of 218 – at stumps on the second day.
David Bedingham showed his vast experience of English conditions by top-scoring in the Proteas’ first innings with a workmanlike 45 off 111 balls.
He knows that much more will probably be needed from him if the Proteas are to win their first major ICC trophy since 1998, but has the full belief in his teammates to get the job done when they do eventually come out to face the full menace of the Australian attack.
“We’re very confident,” Bedingham said. “I think the batters will have their plans.
“I think it’s just an amazing chance, and I think we’re all very, very excited about the opportunity to win.
“I think when they started batting in their third innings, I think we would have definitely had them or taken them at 220 for eight.
“It could go either way, but I think us as a team are very, very excited, and there’s a lot of belief in the dressing room.”
Bedingham also paid tribute to the way Ngidi showed the mental ability to bounce back after enduring a barrage of criticism for his first innings performance, citing a change from the Pavillion End to the Nursery End as the catalyst for the turnaround in the paceman’s fortunes.
“Lungi’s a chilled guy, so I don’t think it would have affected him that much,” Bedingham said.
“But yeah, I think he was struggling with that end, and I think as soon as he changed ends, he looked a lot more comfortable.
“Yeah, and for him to bowl nine overs on the bounce takes a massive amount of effort.”
Cummins will, though, once again be the immovable force standing between the Proteas and their shot at glory when their batting innings begins, and the Australian skipper – who passed 300 wickets on Thursday – is in no mood to relinquish the mace just yet.
“Ideally, probably, have a few more wickets in the shed. But I think the trend of the game is the runs are coming down, and it’s still pretty difficult out there,” he said.
“I think both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined, haven’t been too many half-volleys.
“Both teams are kind of just hanging in that good length area, pretty tight line. I think it’s the fast bowling, and the wicket’s got enough in it to make it even more tricky.
“It’s been really exciting. The crowd was really into it today as the wickets were falling.
“I think it’s set up pretty well for a day three finish you’d imagine tomorrow. But, yeah, I think we’re going to have to bowl well still in the fourth innings.”
