Heinrich Klassen’s decisive run-out on the final delivery secured a nail-biting one-run victory for South Africa against Nepal, ending the Asian side’s hopes of advancing to the Super Eight stage in the Ground D match of the ICC T20 World Cup at the St. Vincent Stadium. Needing two runs from the last ball to stay alive in the tournament, Nepal’s Gulsan Jha was run out at the non-striker’s end by Klaasen, preventing what seemed like an inevitable Super Over. It was a heartbreaking end for Nepal, who had outperformed South Africa for much of the match.

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However, fans were quick to spot a huge umpiring blunder. On the last ball, Ottneil Baartman bowled a short-pitched delivery to Gulshan, who tried to flick it towards the point region. However, the extra bounce on the delivery saw Gulshan mistime his shot.

#HeinrichKlaasen‘s act on the last ball meant Nepal’s heroic performance went in vain!

Watch South Africa in action next in #USAvSA in #Super8 | WED, JUN 19, 6 PM | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/zZco3Dn1sZ

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 15, 2024

Fans on social media, however, argued that the ball should have been called a wide. They even shared screenshots on social media to back their argument.

Here’s how internet reacted: 

…not given wide pic.twitter.com/AsPEgaouOY

— Namaste Nepal (@NamasteNepal_) June 15, 2024

Another umpiring decision cost a match bartman bowled 2 bouncers in last 2 balls he was given warning this last was over his head but SA intentionaly diverted umpires from calling wide & even comentators were sleeping thats why batters ran slowly as it was wide #Nepal pic.twitter.com/UHm0yFLaWT

— Adil Ali Shah (@AdilAliShah13) June 15, 2024

How many bouncer allowed in one over ???@mufaddal_vohra @CricCrazyJohns

Ye to wide v lag rha h mereko….#nepal #SAvsNep #t20inUSA pic.twitter.com/dsl8xlB2c8

— Raushan Prasad (@RaushanPrasad07) June 15, 2024

Bad umpiring cost Nepal this match. In last over Bartman bowled 2 bouncers one of them was wide.

— remon (@remoon125) June 15, 2024

Last Ball Wicket But that last ball was Wide Because 5th ball is one bounce, Why didn’t Umpire notice that? #WC2024 #JusticeForNepal #Nepal #SAvsNEP pic.twitter.com/uuC3v6U3Yz

— Kaviieee (@unknownprsn17) June 15, 2024

Nepal’s spinners had dominated, restricting South Africa to a modest 115/7. The South African innings was anchored by opener Reeza Hendricks, who scored 43 runs, while Tristan Stubbs was the only other batter to cross a strike rate of 100, finishing unbeaten on 27 off 18 balls. Nepal’s bowlers, Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee, were exceptional, sharing seven wickets between them and keeping the Proteas’ batters in check.

In response, Nepal looked well on their way to victory. Their top-order batsmen had the chase under control, reaching 85/2 by the 14th over with the required rate comfortably manageable.

However, South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi turned the tide with a brilliant spell, taking 4/19, which put immense pressure on the Nepali chase. Fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Ottneil Baartman then held their nerve, bowling the final two overs to perfection and leaving Nepal needing eight runs from the last over.

The tension peaked as Gulsan Jha struck a boundary off the third ball of the final over, bringing the equation down to two runs from the last ball. Klassen’s quick reflexes and sharp throw ensured that Jha was caught short of the crease, sealing a memorable win for South Africa and breaking Nepalese hearts.

(With Added Inputs)

Nepal’s dream of entering the T20 World Cup 2024, Super 8s stage, shattered after they lost against South Africa in a nail-biting thriller. Opting to bowl first, Nepal restricted the Proteas to 115/7 in 20 overs with Kushal Bhurtel scalping four wickets. Later in the chase, Nepal always had an upper hand as their batters stitched good partnerships. However, it was spinner Tabraiz Shamsi‘s deadly spell of 4/19, which completely changed the result of the game as the Proteas sealed victory on the very last ball.

On the last ball of the match, Nepal needed 2 runs to win. Batter Gulshan Jha failed to connect the bat with Ottneil Baartman’s delivery as the ball went straight to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who threw it towards Heinrich Klaasen on time, resulting in Nepal batter’s run out. 

As the celebrations began in South Africa’s camp, Gulshan Jha sat in disbelief after the loss. His teammate Sompal Kami tried to console him but Jha, who got teary eyed, took some moments and then walked away to the dugout.

Nepalese players crying……!!!!

– This is the youngest team in this world cup, they put up a great performance against South Africa but very sadly lost by just 1 run. Nepal has won our hearts…..#SAvNep#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/B1YqreD0Q0

— Khal!D ‌ (@bd71khalid) June 15, 2024 

Needing eight runs off the final over in pursuit of a modest target of 116 for a stunning upset win, the Nepalese fell agonisingly short at 114 for seven with Gulshan Jha run out off the final ball as he attempted a single off Ottneil Baartman to force a super over.

“Very grateful to have got the win. Don’t think we were anywhere near our best tonight. For large parts, don’t think we thought we’d be on the right side of that as well. Lot of learnings for us. We’ve got a really good pace attack and you have to back that. We spoke about coming in with energy and see if there was anything in the wicket,” said South Africa skipper Aiden Markram after the win. 

“They (Nepal) bowled really well and made it tough for us. They put us under a lot of pressure and it shows the quality they have. Mix that with a lack of conviction in our dressing room so there’s a lot of learnings for us. It’s about backing the players we’ve developed and going forward with that,” he added.