Watch: Nepal players and fans go inconsolable as South Africa clinch a nail-biting thriller

South African power hitter Heinrich Klaasen came up with a match-winning moment in his team's clash against Nepal earlier today in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Group D leaders South Africa were taking on Rohit Paudel's Nepal who were playing just their 3rd match of the group stages. The Nepali team's previous match against bottom-sided Sri Lanka was washed out without a ball bowled. And in their opening match of the 2024 T20 World Cup edition, they lost to European outfit Netherlands.

Even though Nepal were very close to staging an upset against South Africa, the Asians got knocked out of the T20 WC in the USA and West Indies. They can only get to 3 points even if they win against Bangladesh in their final Group D match, which is not going to be enough for qualification in the Super 8s.

Had they scored 2 runs off the last ball while chasing 116 against South Africa, then their chances for the next round would have remained solid. But one throw from Heinrich Klaasen broke the hearts of many Nepali fans who have backed the team and got behind them very passionately despite negative results.

Heinrich Klaasen breaks Nepal's dream in first ever T20 World Cup

Heinrich Klaasen, who is known for his explosiveness with the bat, came to the rescue of South Africa with a brilliant effort as a fielder. If it wasn't for him, then Nepal would have run away with 2 points and the headline of another upset taking place in Kingstown would have been all over the internet.

Knowing that he hadn't done well with the bat in the 1st innings, scoring only 3 off 5, Heinrich Klaasen knew he had to make the opportunity count. In the last ball of the 20th over, Nepal tailender Gulshan Jha ran for a single without hitting the ball, which went to Quinton de Kock.

The wicket-keeper threw to the striker's end but the target was missed. But as the ball reached the mid-way of the pitch, Heinrich Klaasen picked up and threw the ball from low height. Luckily for South Africa, Gulshan Jha was timid and fell short of ground before the red lights went on and the bails took off.

South Africa will look back at this match and think that it was a good time to get a reality check as they will now feature in the Super 8s. Reeza Hendricks, de Kock, Markram, and Tristan Stubbs delivered decent performances only for the Proteas to reach 115.

In response, Nepal did well to take the game very deep but Gulshan Jha just wasn't able to show game awareness by stretching his arm to cross the white line. In their first-ever T20 World Cup, the Nepali team has the chance of winning their first match ever against Bangladesh on June 17.

Watch the video of Heinrich Klaasen's run-out

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