Nepal's Spinners Shine in Near-Upset Against South Africa

Nepal's valiant effort against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 fell just short, but captain Rohit Paudel believes that increased exposure to top-tier opposition will ultimately lead to success.

Chasing a modest target of 116, Nepal dominated the proceedings until the 18th over, when Tabraiz Shamsi's double strike shifted the momentum. Anrich Nortje and Ottneil Baartman then held their nerve in the final overs, denying Nepal the two runs they needed from the last ball to force a Super Over.

"We're incredibly proud of the team's performance, especially our bowling and batting," Paudel said. "We came close but fell just short. We performed well in crucial moments, and our fighting spirit was commendable. With more regular exposure, we'll be on the winning side in future matches."

Nepal's spinners, Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Bhurtel, were the architects of their near-upset, claiming seven wickets for just 40 runs in their combined eight overs. Sandeep Lamichhane, returning from injury, bowled four economical overs for 18 runs.

Paudel acknowledged the spinners' effectiveness on the pitch. "When we inspected the wicket yesterday, we anticipated it to be slow," he said. "As we bowled, we realized it favored the spinners, so we introduced Bhurtel and continued with our spin attack."

Bhurtel's impressive 4 for 19 included the dismissals of Aiden Markram, Henrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada.

Despite the narrow defeat, Nepal's performance has instilled confidence in the team. With increased exposure to top-level competition, they are poised to achieve their first victory against a Full Member side in the near future.

Tags: #NepalCricket, #T20WorldCup, #SpinnersDominate, #RohitPaudel, #SouthAfrica