Lungi Ngidi took out Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

South Africa debutant Lungi Ngidi had a day to remember as he removed Lokesh Rahul and India captain Virat Kohli to leave his side just seven wickets away from victory heading into the final day in Centurion.

Starting off the day on 90/2, AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar converted their 87-run partnership into a 141-run stand before De Villiers was caught behind off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for 80, which came off 121 balls and included 10 boundaries.

Elgar went on to score 61 off 121 deliveries, which included eight boundaries and a six, before he was caught by Rahul at deep square off the bowling of Shami.

Shami struck for a third time in his next over when he had Quinton de Kock caught behind for 12.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander halted India’s charge with a 46-run partnership before Philander was dismissed by Ishant Sharma for 26.

Keshav Maharaj fell shortly after, while Kagiso Rabada made four before he was caught by Kohli at second slip off the bowling of Shami.

Du Plessis went on to score 48 off 141 balls, which included four boundaries, before he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa ended up being bowled out for 258, which set India a target of 287 to win, when Ngidi was removed by Ravichandran Ashwin for one run.

Shami was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Bumrah snapped up three, Ishant took two and Ashwin chipped in with one.

Chasing 287 to win, India made a cautious start to their innings, but in the eighth over, opener Murali Vijay was clean bowled by Rabada for nine runs.

Ngidi took over from that point as he first removed Rahul, who was caught by Maharaj at backward point for four runs.

The 21-year-old then secured the big wicket of Kohli by trapping him lbw for just five runs. Even though Kohli opted to review the decision, he had to continue walking back to the pavilion as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and crashing into the stumps.

With India in shambles at 26/3, Cheteshwar Pujara and wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel managed to guide their side to stumps with an unbeaten nine-run partnership.

Pujara finished on 11 off 40 balls, which included a solitary boundary, while Patel remained undefeated on five runs.

Ngidi was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Rabada claimed one.

India ended day four on 35/3 and will continue batting on Wednesday at 10:00 local time or 08:00 GMT.