Proteas speedsters aim to ‘cut the head off the snake’ against Bangladesh: Ngidi

The Proteas’ strike bowlers will come hard at the Bangladesh top order in their second match at the ICC T20 World Cup in Sydney on Thursday, says speedster Lungi Ngidi.

The 26-year-old said Bangladesh are not to be taken lightly, having beaten the Proteas in an ODI series in South Africa in March, and are a tough team that can beat any side on the day.

However, the right-arm seamer, who took 2-20 in South Africa's rained-out encounter against Zimbabwe, said the Proteas have plans to produce a positive result in a tricky assignment at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Tigers are at the summit of Group 2 after their victory over the Netherlands, while the South Africans occupy third spot after their no-result match in Hobart saw them share the spoils with their neighbours.

Asked how important this match is from a momentum-building point of view, Ngidi said every game at the tournament is important.

“All the points you get are important and, as a team, we have wrapped our heads around having to win everything to give ourselves the best chance of qualifying for the semis,” he said at the SCG on Wednesday.

Bangladesh possess a fierce top order who can take the game away from any opponents and Ngidi knows early wickets could be key to stemming momentum.

“The last time we played Bangladesh their batsmen came out pretty aggressively against us — we are very aware of that and will be targeting their top order.

“As a Proteas bowling unit, we are definitely looking to cut the head off the snake, which is to take out their top order and restrict them to as low a total as possible.”

Ngidi does not believe the single point from their opening match should be seen in a negative light.

“Everybody is talking about it in a negative sense. But it is one more point than we had [after the first game] at the last World Cup. From here on we have to win all our games — that is the only mindset we have.”

The Proteas are armed with a quartet of exciting fast bowlers in Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortjé and Marco Jansen.

Ngidi said having a clearly defined role within the side makes the bowlers’ job easier.

“It is difficult when you have two seamers who have to do everything, whereas we probably have three or four, and everyone is probably better at something than someone else, so we can always turn to someone else if things aren’t going well,” he said.

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