T20 World Cup 2024: Nepal fall narrowly short against South Africa

South Africa survived a scare from Nepal in eking out a one-run victory in their final Group D match of the T20 World Cup at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent on Friday.

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Needing eight runs in the last over in pursuit of a modest 116 run target to stage a huge upset, Nepal fell agonisingly short at 114/7 with Gulshan Jha run out off the final ball as he attempted a single off Ottneil Baartman to force a Super Over.

“Very grateful to have got the win, we were not near our best tonight,” relieved South Africa captain Aiden Markram said afterwards.

“Reflecting back on the game over the next few days, there will be a lot of learnings for us.

“First and foremost, the way Nepal bowled it made it really tough for us. They put us under a lot of pressure.”

After Kushal Bhurtel (4/19) and Dipendra Singh Airee (3/21) restricted South Africa to 115/7 batting first, Aasif Sheikh (42) and Anil Sah (27) featured in a 50-run third-wicket partnership which pulled Nepal within touching distance of a result which would have kept their hopes alive of getting to the Super Eight phase.

Dropped on one to a caught-and-bowled chance by Kagiso Rabada in just the second over, opener Sheikh saw off the first threat of Tabraiz Shamsi only for the left-arm wrist-spinner to return for a final over in the 18th over of the innings to claim both Sah and Sheikh in finishing with the excellent figures of 4/19.

Anrich Nortje then bowled Kushal Malla in the 19th over to tilt the balance South Africa’s way and they just managed to hang on for the win amid unbearable tension.

Sandeep Lamichhane, denied a visa to enter the USA which kept him out of the first two matches, went wicketless through four overs but his mere presence seemed to lift his teammates after their captain, Rohit Paudel, won an important toss and put the Proteas in.

Already assured of a place in the Super Eight phase and fully expecting to close out the group campaign with a flawless record, none of the South African top-order were able to get on top of the bowling, although opener Reeza Hendricks managed to give the innings some sort of stability with 43 off 49 balls (five fours, one six).

Nepal’s bowlers were in their element throughout the innings with only a late effort by Tristan Stubbs (27 not out off 18 balls) causing them some concern before Bhurtel closed off the innings with the wickets of Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada off successive balls.

“I think I am very proud of the unit, especially the way we bowled and batted,” Nepal captain Paudel said.

“I thought we fought very good. If we get more exposure to games like this, we will be on the other side.”