Former Indian opener Abhinav Mukund showered praise on Lungi Ngidi for bamboozling Nicholas Pooran after the Delhi Capitals registered a six-wicket win against the Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow on Wednesday.

Ngidi bowled a slow-dipping full-length delivery to outfox Pooran after the left-hander scored eight runs off as many deliveries. The South African seamer has mastered this delivery and has used it with guile at the top level. Pooran had no answer and he was left flabbergasted.

Mukund said former CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo used to bowl a similar delivery and Ngidi must have learned it from the West Indian during his stint with CSK.

Ngidi returned with impressive figures of 3-27 in 3.4 overs he bowled and played a key role in skittling out LSG at 141. The South African seamer also dismissed Mohsin Khan and compatriot Anrich Nortje.

Mukund said on ESPN Cricinfo, “I think it’s the effectiveness. It’s very easy to say take pace off, but skill levels at which Ngidi is operating, I think you can compare it to a certain DJ Bravo, who used to do the same thing. The revs and the dip that you get, it’s very hard for the batters to line up them. I think every batter is almost committing to it and unable to play anything more after that.

“Pooran was completely outfoxed. He picked the slower ball, yet couldn’t do anything about it,” the 36-year-old added.

On the other hand, Dale Steyn reckons it is really difficult to pick Ngidi’s slower ball out of his hand.

He added, “He bowls that slower ball so well. A lot of batters don’t see that ball from Ngidi even though you know that it’s coming. It’s so difficult to pick up out of his hand. Nicky P can consider himself just one of the many guys who have been foxed before.”

Delhi Capitals will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Saturday.