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Following their narrow one-run victory over Nepal in the T20 World Cup 2024 match, South Africa captain Aiden Markram expressed appreciation for their team’s ability to secure the win.In Kingstown, St. Vincent, South Africa skipper Aiden Markram expressed his team’s gratitude for securing a narrow one-run victory over Nepal in the T20 World Cup 2024 match.Markram contributed a 15-run innings from 22 balls with a strike rate of 68.18. He hit only two boundaries during his time at the crease. The skipper had a slow start in the first half of the match.Markram expressed disappointment with their performance against Nepal, acknowledging that they fell short of their best. However, he lauded his seamers, highlighting their formidable pace attack.
“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. In hindsight we should’ve played another spinner, didn’t think it would spin that much,” Markram said.
The Proteas skipper accepted that Nepal bowled well in the first inning and made it tough for South Africa.”They 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,” he added.
In the match summary, Nepal won the toss and opted to field first. Reeza Hendricks anchored the innings amidst a flurry of wickets, compiling 43 runs off 49 deliveries, embellished with five boundaries and a six. The Proteas found themselves struggling at 82/4 after 15.3 overs. A late charge, led by a brisk 27 not out off 18 balls, including two fours and a six, propelled them to a total of 115/7 at the end of their 20 overs. Kushal Bhurtel shone with the ball for Nepal, while Dipendra Singh Airee’s spell yielded figures of 3/21 in his quota of four overs.
In the run-chase of 116 runs, Aasif Sheikh steered his team near a victory after they were reduced to 35/2 in 7.4 overs. Aasif had a 50-run partnership with Anil Sah . In the final over, Nepal was left to get eight runs. But Gulshan Jha being run-out on the final ball left them a run short of what could have been a famous victory.
Tabraiz Shamsi was impressive with the ball, delivering a spell of 4/19 in four overs. Anrich Nortje and Aiden Markram also took a wicket each.Shamsi secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his heroic spell.
