The Proteas and Black Caps meet at Edgbaston in Birmingham on today.
South Africa have been boosted by the return of star bowler Lungi Ngidi who hopes to find a way through a New Zealand middle order he feels has yet to be tested at the Cricket World Cup. New Zealand have knocked South Africa out of the last two World Cups and a Kiwi win in this round-robin clash could again prove fatal for the struggling Proteas who have won just one match.
But the presence of 'x-factor" fast bowler Ngidi adds to the building confidence in the Proteas camp after they finally got a win, albeit against Afghanistan.
Ngidi has not played since pulling up with a tight hamstring after bowling just four overs against Bangladesh on June 2. But he passed a fitness test at Edgbaston on Tuesday and has been cleared to play in what is a must-win game for the Proteas, reports Agencies.
"It's been tough. Injuries are never nice, but with the support staff that I've had around me it's been pretty good and I've been alright," Ngidi said after getting the good news. "It's just been frustrating not being able to play. I've just finished a fitness test today and passed that, so I'm match-fit ready.
"It's 100 per cent. That's how the fitness test goes and if you're not bowling at 100 per cent, then you're not ready to play."
Ngidi believes South Africa need to dig deep into the talented New Zealand batting order if they are to succeed.
"I don't think their middle and lower order have been tested enough," he said.
"They have got the bulk of their runs at the top of the order, so if we can get one or two maybe we can test them. I think then you could be looking at a different situation with their batting."
