KINGSTOWN: Tabraiz Shamsi took a four-wicket haul to lead South Africa to a narrow one-run victory over a spirited Nepal side in a thrilling ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash here at Arnos Vale Ground on Friday.
Chasing 116, Nepal needed two off the last ball, however, South Africa held on their nerves and ran out Gulsan Jha to earn the hard-fought win.
Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh gave Nepal a cautious start with a 35-run opening pair in 7.2 balls before Tabraiz Shamsi halted their momentum.
Shamsi bowled Bhurtel, who scored 13 off 21, and Rohit Paudel (0) in three balls in the eighth over.
Anil Shah then scored a 24-ball 27 during the 50-run stand for the third wicket with Sheikh to force Nepal’s comeback. Aiden Markram dismissed Shah with 85 runs on the board in 13.4 overs.
Shamsi once struck twice in an over, removing Dipendra Singh Airee (6) and a settled Aasif Sheikh to close the 18th over at 100-6.
Sheikh top-scored for Nepal with 42 runs from 49 balls with the help of four boundaries and one six.
With 16 required off two overs, Anrich Nortje bowled the penultimate over and called Kushal Malla to further dent Nepal’s pursuit, however, Kompal Sami scored eight runs off the last two balls, including one six.
Ottneil Baartman bowled the last over and gave away six runs to lead his side to a thrilling victory.
Shamsi returned with the figures of 4-19, while Nortje and Markram picked one wicket each.
Sent into bat first, South Africa lost Quinton de Kock (10) early in the fourth over with 22 runs on the board.
Hendricks was joined by skipper Aiden Markram (15) and together they constructed a cautious 46-run partnership from as many balls before Bhurtel struck to pick his first wicket.
Bhurtel soon dismissed Heinrich Klaasen (3), while Dipendra Singh Airee removed a set Hendricks, who played a cautious knock of 43 runs from 49 balls.
Hendricks’ innings featured five boundaries and one six.
Tristan Stubbs played an unbeaten cameo of 27 runs from 18 balls, laced with two boundaries and one six.
Meanwhile, Bhurtel Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada on the final two balls of the innings to restrict South Africa to 115-7 in 20 overs.
Bhurtel’s figures read 4-19, while Airee claimed three wickets for Nepal.
READ: “We can take on any one,” Jonathan Trott after Afghanistan’s Super 8s qualification
Fast bowler Marco Jansen took 7-13 as South Africa skittled Sri Lanka for just 42…
Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has voiced his strong support for the Pakistan Cricket…
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, expressed strong dissatisfaction on Thursday…
BULAWAYO: Kamran Ghulam's maiden ODI century was followed by a combined bowling effort that helped…
Uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster was on Thursday added to the Australia squad for next week's…
England captured the vital wicket of Kane Williamson for 93 in a dramatic five-wicket final…