Nepal’s aspirations to reach the Super 8s stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup were dashed in a thrilling encounter against South Africa. After electing to bowl, Nepal managed to restrict the Proteas to 115/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a stellar performance from Kushal Bhurtel, who took four crucial wickets.
Nepal’s chase started strong with solid partnerships, but it was Tabraiz Shamsi’s game-changing spell of 4/19 that turned the tide in favor of South Africa. The match came down to the final ball, with Nepal needing two runs to win. Gulshan Jha, facing Ottneil Baartman, failed to connect, and the ball was swiftly sent to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who relayed it to Heinrich Klaasen for a run out, sealing Nepal’s fate.
As South Africa celebrated their narrow victory, Gulshan Jha was left devastated, sitting in disbelief on the field. Despite his teammate Sompal Kami’s attempts to console him, Jha, overcome with emotion, took a moment before retreating to the dugout.
In a post-match reflection, needing eight runs from the final over, Nepal fell just short, ending at 114/7. Jha’s run out on the last ball denied them the chance to push the game into a super over.
South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, acknowledged the hard-fought nature of the win.
We’re very grateful to have secured the victory. It wasn’t our best performance tonight, and for much of the game, it didn’t look like we’d come out on top. Nepal bowled exceptionally well and put us under significant pressure, showcasing their quality,
he said.
This match taught us a lot. We need to back our pace attack and continue with the energy and strategy we discussed.
Markram praised Nepal’s efforts, highlighting their ability to challenge South Africa effectively and emphasizing the lessons his team would take forward from the match.
