Despair for Nepal as South Africa Remain Unbeaten with Final-Ball Triumph

 Nepal Knocked Out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as South Africa Maintain Their Unbeaten Status in a Thriller

South Africa vs Nepal, Scorecard

South Africa Overcome Spirited Nepal to Secure a Thrilling Win | Match Highlights | T20WC 2024

The Proteas clinched victory by a single run.

Heinrich Klaasen executed a run-out from the final delivery, ensuring South Africa's unbeaten streak at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and dashing Nepal's hopes of advancing to the Super Eights with a thrilling one-run victory in St Vincent on Friday.

Nepal needed two runs from the last ball to keep their Super Eights hopes alive. However, Klaasen's calm and precise run-out of Gulsan Jha at the non-striker's end prevented a potential Super Over.

It was a heartbreaking end for Nepal, who had been the stronger team for much of the contest. Their spinners were exceptional, restricting South Africa to 115/7, and their top-order batsmen seemed on course with 85/2 in the 14th over, keeping the required run rate within reach.

However, South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi (4/19) shifted the momentum with his crucial spell, while pacers Anrich Nortje (1/27) and Ottneil Baartman (0/20) maintained their composure in the final two overs, ultimately denying Nepal their first-ever win over a full ICC member side.

South Africa will need to elevate their performance in the next tournament phase to compete with the top teams, as they were not at their best against Nepal.

Opener Reeza Hendricks (43) was the only South African to spend significant time at the crease, while Tristan Stubbs (27* off 18 balls) was the sole batter with a strike rate over 100. Nepal's spinners dominated, limiting South Africa to a modest total.

Kushal Bhurtel (4/19) and Dipendra Singh Airee (3/21) claimed seven wickets between them. Nepal's chase seemed in control until Shamsi's late intervention left eight runs required from the final over.

Gulsan Jha found the boundary on the third ball of the last over, but Klaasen's game-winning run-out at the end secured South Africa's victory.

Relive the Final Over from the South Africa-Nepal Thriller | T20WC 2024

Gulsan Jha nearly pulled off a win.

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, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Abinash Bohara