South Africa defeated Nepal in a thrilling last-ball match in Match 31 of the T20 World Cup 2024 at Kingstown on Saturday. It was an absolute thriller. Following their decision to bat first, Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Bhurtel combined for seven wickets to hold the Proteas to 115/7.
It appeared to be an easy target for Nepal at one point during the tight run chase. But Tabraiz Shamsi, a left-arm wrist spinner, changed the game with a stunning 4/19 spell, leaving Nepal needing eight runs in the last over.
Aasif Sheikh scored 42, but veteran Heinrich Klaasen kept his composure to run out the last delivery and earn a thrilling one-run victory. Accepting the award for Player of the Match, Shamsi noted that South Africa had played in close-fought matches in the main event thus far.
After the game, Shamsi remarked, “It’s a little bit closer than we’ve needed it to be, testing out all the scores. We’ve been put under pressure in every single game and we have stood up to it.”
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The left-arm spinner underlined that South Africa needs to change its strategy in the upcoming games of the major event since spin is so important on the Caribbean surfaces.
In every game thus far, South Africa has found various match-winners to come through in crucial moments, despite their troubles at the bat, where their top three scorers, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, and Markram, have managed just 129 runs altogether.
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The Proteas will try to deliver a more polished performance as they advance to the Super Eight stage as group winners. Their capacity to come out on top in close games from challenging circumstances may prove to be a huge advantage in the crucial elimination games that lie ahead in their pursuit of a historic first-ever T20 World Cup victory.
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