London, Aug 01: South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini grew up playing cricket for the Mdingi Cricket Club in the foothills of the Amatola Mountains, fifty miles from East London. Yesterday at the home of the more famous, London-based MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) Ntini took five for 75 as South Africa bowled out England for just 173 on the first day of the second Test at Lord's.
"It was better to take five wickets at Lord's than to play at my own Lord's," joked Ntini after South Africa finished the first day well placed at 151 for one - just 22 behind. "It was one of my dreams, one of my ambitions. This is my first Test at Lord's and I wanted to leave a mark for the new generation and for the black community," he said.
Ntini, 26, playing his 33rd Test, was one of the first black cricketers to breakthrough following South Africa's re-admission to Test cricket in 1992. But the border quick added that his success here was for the whole country. "I represent everyone in South Africa. Everyone in South Africa is behind the South African cricket team.
"The people back home can see there is no colour issue. It's about how talented you are," Ntini insisted. Bureau Report