Nepal’s hopes were dashed in a heart-stopping match against South Africa at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where the African side clinched a nail-biting victory off the final ball to remain undefeated in the tournament.
In a tense encounter in St Vincent, Heinrich Klaasen’s crucial run-out on the last delivery secured South Africa’s narrow one-run win over Nepal, ending the Asian team’s dreams of advancing to the Super Eights.
The match swung dramatically throughout, with Nepal initially dominating proceedings. Their spinners, led by Kushal Bhurtel (4/19) and Dipendra Singh Airee (3/21), restricted South Africa to 115/7.
Nepal’s chase seemed well on track when they reached 85/2, needing just a manageable target. However, Tabraiz Shamsi’s brilliant spell (4/19) turned the game around, putting the pressure back on Nepal.
Despite a valiant effort, Nepal faltered in the final moments. Requiring two runs from the last ball, Gulsan Jha was run out by Klaasen, denying Nepal a chance at a Super Over and sealing South Africa’s victory.
South Africa, though victorious, faced struggles of their own during the match. Apart from opener Reeza Hendricks (43), who anchored the innings, and Tristan Stubbs (27* off 18 balls), the Proteas struggled to build partnerships against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack.
Looking ahead, South Africa will need to raise their game in the upcoming rounds to compete with stronger opponents, having shown vulnerability in various facets against Nepal.
The thrilling encounter showcased Nepal’s resilience and potential on the international stage, despite falling short in this crucial match. Their spinners impressed, and their batting showed promise, reflecting positively on their future prospects in T20 cricket.
With this win, South Africa remains unbeaten and will aim to consolidate their form as they progress further in the tournament. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues to deliver gripping matches, setting the stage for more thrilling cricket action in the weeks to come.
Teams:
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman, Anrich Nortje
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Anil Sah, Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Abinash Bohara