South Africa successfully defended their total of 115/7 against Nepalclinching victory by a mere one run in thrilling Match 31 of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Arnos Vile Ground in Kingstown on Saturday (June 15).

Reeza Hendricks’ crucial innings: Setting the stage

Opting to bat first, South Africa faced early setbacks with the dismissals of Quinton de Kock (10) and Aiden Markram (15) but steadied their innings with Reeza Hendricks leading the charge with a resilient 43 off 49 balls.

However, Dependra Singh Airee‘s disciplined bowling fetched him 3 crucial wickets, while Kushal Bhurtel‘s economical spell of 4 wickets for 19 runs kept South Africa in check. Tristan Stubbs‘ unbeaten 27 off 18 deliveries bolstered their total, setting Nepal a challenging target.

Aasif Sheikh and Anil Sah lead Nepal’s response

Chasing 116 runs for victory, Nepal started steadily with Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh building a promising partnership.

Bhurtel’s 13 and Sheikh’s resilient 42 off 49 balls provided Nepal a solid foundation, but Tabraiz Shamsi‘s exceptional bowling performance turned the tide in South Africa’s favor. Shamsi’s 4 wickets for 19 runs in 4 overs, ably supported by Anrich Nortje and Aiden Markramensured Nepal’s chase faltered despite contributions from Anil Sah (27 off 24) and Sheikh.

South Africa survives close scar

Nepal, needing 8 runs off the final over, fell agonizingly short, finishing at 114/7 in their allotted 20 overs. The match showcased exceptional bowling performances from both teams, with Dipendra Singh impressing for Nepal and Shamsi proving pivotal for South Africa. Shamsi was eventually named Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling performance. Ultimately, South Africa’s ability to maintain their nerve in a tense finish secured them a hard-earned victory, highlighting the competitiveness and drama of T20 cricket at its best.

Here’s how X (Twitter) reacted: