Rookie pacer Ottneil Baartman delivered a stellar remaining over as South Africa edged out a persistent Nepal by one run in a dramatic end to their final Group D recreation of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup late Friday evening.
Held to 115 for seven off their 20 overs on a sluggish Arnos Vale Stadium pitch, exploited successfully by leg-spinner Kushal Bhurtel (4-19) and off-spinner Dipendra Singh Airee (3-21), South Africa confronted the prospect of their first defeat with Nepal effectively positioned at 85 for 2 within the 14th over.
Nevertheless, leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi struck two essential blows in a Man-of-the-Match efficiency, taking 4 wickets for 19 runs from his 4 overs. The 31-year-old Baartman, in solely his fifth T20 Worldwide, then held his nerve in a dramatic remaining over with the Nepalese needing eight runs for a historic win.
“I believed Baartman executed his final two balls rather well to maintain us within the recreation, however a humorous ending to the way it all completed,” South Africa captain Aiden Markram mentioned. “Generally you simply change into very grateful to get random victories like that.”
I used to be simply there within the second
Baartman stored Gulsan Jha scoreless from the primary two deliveries, however then watched because the 18-year-old left-hander flayed the third ball to the quilt boundary. A pair from the fourth ball left Nepal needing simply two runs from the final two deliveries, however Baartman prevailed. Gulsan was run out off the ultimate ball after lacking a swing on the supply after which discovering himself effectively wanting his floor on the non-striker’s finish whereas making an attempt a determined single.
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“I didn’t really feel something. I used to be simply there within the second,” Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel mentioned. “Everybody was excited – two runs have been wanted in two balls. T20 is a quick recreation. The sport shifts with two good balls or perhaps a boundary.”
Despatched in to bat, South Africa struggled for runs, with opener Reeza Hendricks scoring 43 off 49 balls, the one participant to get the measure of the pitch. Hendricks struck 5 fours and a six and posted 44 for the second wicket with Markram (15) earlier than Tristan Stubbs belted an unbeaten 27 off 18 balls at quantity six to assist bolster the innings.
In reply, opener Aasif Sheikh struck 4 fours and a six in his 42 off 49 deliveries, placing on 35 for the primary wicket with Kushal Bhurtel (13) and an extra 50 for the third wicket with Anil Sah (27), earlier than the chase turned unstuck.
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South Africa completed their group stage with 4 wins from as many begins, whereas Nepal have been eradicated with a recreation remaining.
