| 0.0 : Toss Update: Nepal have won the toss and opted to BOWL. |
| South Africa (Playing XI) - Quinton de Kock(WK), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(C), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman, Tabraiz Shamsi (in for Keshav Maharaj). |
| Nepal (Playing XI) - Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(WK), Anil Sah, Rohit Paudel(C), Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane (in for Sagar Dhakal), Abinash Bohara. |
| Rohit Paudel, the Nepal captain, says that they will bowl first as the second innings will have dew and batting will be easier. Mentions that they had a good time to prepare and work on their skills in the past 10 days. |
| Aiden Markram, the South African skipper, says that they were looking to bat first so not unhappy with the toss result. Shares that they wanted to give some time to the batters in the middle. Mentions that they are excited about the clash as Nepal have done well in the past 12-18 months. Ends by sharing that Keshav Maharaj gets a break and Tabraiz Shamsi comes in for him. |
| Pitch Report: The experts reckon that there is a gentle breeze around the ground at 12 kmph and the boundaries are 67 and 61 meters on the square while 76 meters down the ground. They further add that there is a bit of grass that should assist the spinners and the pacers as well. End by mentioning that 160 should be a par score and the South African pacers should enjoy bowling on this surface. |
| This is the first meeting between these two sides in International cricket. Sandeep Lamichhane has joined the squad and is in the playing XI today. The leg-spinners's experience could be handy for the Nepalese side. |
| All in readiness now as the teams and match officials make their way to the ground for the National Anthems. We begin with the anthem of Nepal followed by that of South Africa. Live action is not far away. |
| Right then, we are done with the pre-match formalities. The umpires and players stride out to the park. Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks will be the openers for South Africa. It will be Sompal Kami with the ball for Nepal. Let's play... |
| 0.1 : Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, Sompal Kami begins with a full-length delivery, just outside off, and shapes it away. Reeza Hendricks lets it go. |
| 0.2 : Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, Back of a length, on off. Reeza Hendricks gets behind it and knocks it to the cover-point fielder. |
| 0.3 : Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, On a length, on the leg peg. Reeza Hendricks defends it toward the silly mid on region. |
| 0.4 : Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, FOUR LEG BYES! First runs for South Africa and off the pad! Kami strays on the pad. Hendricks nudges it off the pad and it runs past the keeper for four extras to the fine leg region. |
| 0.5 : Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, Kami goes full, on off. Reeza Hendricks defends it forward. |
| 0.6 : Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, No run. |
| 0.0 : Time for some spin. It will Dipendra Singh Airee from the opposite end. |
| 1.1 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Quinton de Kock, 2 runs. |
| Dipendra Singh Airee to Quinton de Kock, WIDE! Flat and way too wide outside the tramline. Quinton de Kock plays and misses. Wide signaled. |
| 1.2 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Quinton de Kock, Tossed up on off. Quinton de Kock drops into the off-side and calls for a run. |
| 1.3 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Reeza Hendricks, Flat and turning in on off-stump line. Reeza Hendricks works it toward the wide mid on region for a single to get off the mark. |
| 1.4 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Quinton de Kock, Slower through the air and shorter, outside off. Quinton de Kock cuts it to backward point. |
| 1.5 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Quinton de Kock, Fires it full, at the stumps. Quinton de Kock comes forward and gets an inside edge toward backward square leg for one. |
| 1.6 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Reeza Hendricks, Flatter and turning into middle and off-stump line. Reeza Hendricks hangs back and turns it toward backward square leg. He wanted the single but de Kock denied. |
| 2.2 : Sompal Kami to Quinton de Kock, No run. |
| 2.1 : Sompal Kami to Quinton de Kock, Pitched full, at the stumps. Quinton de Kock bunts it back at the bowler. |
| 2.3 : Sompal Kami to Quinton de Kock, Back of a length, on off. Quinton de Kock defends it toward mid off. |
| 2.4 : Sompal Kami to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Streaky but de Kock will take it. Kami bowls it full, outside off. Quinton de Kock goes for the expansive drive but gets an inside edge that runs past the short fine leg region for a boundary. |
| 2.5 : Sompal Kami to Quinton de Kock, Bangs it short, on middle and off-stump line. Quinton de Kock stays back and pulls it on the bounce to deep square leg for one. |
| 2.6 : Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, WIDE! Too short and way over the batter, around off. Reeza Hendricks sways out of the line and lets it go. Wide signaled by the umpire. |
| Sompal Kami to Reeza Hendricks, Good length delivery, angling into the middle and leg stump line. Reeza Hendricks looks to tuck it away but misses and wears on the thigh pad. |
| 3.1 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Quinton de Kock, 1 run. |
| 3.2 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Reeza Hendricks, FOUR! BANG! Pitched full, in the slot on off. Reeza Hendricks stays deep in the crease and slams it past the bowler through mid off for a crunching boundary. |
| 3.3 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Reeza Hendricks, Flatter, on the middle and leg. Reeza Hendricks goes back and pulls it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 3.4 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Quinton de Kock, OUT! c & b Dipendra Singh Airee. |
| 0.0 : South African skipper, Aiden Markram is in at 3. |
| 3.5 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Aiden Markram, Tosses it on the middle. Aiden Markram bunts it to the right of the bowler. |
| 3.6 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Aiden Markram, Pitched full, at the stumps. Aiden Markram pushes it back at Airee. |
| 4.1 : Karan KC to Reeza Hendricks, Karan KC starts with a good length delivery, on off. Reeza Hendricks prods forward and blocks it. |
| 4.2 : Karan KC to Reeza Hendricks, Back of a length, angling in. Reeza Hendricks tucks into the leg side. |
| 4.3 : Karan KC to Reeza Hendricks, FOUR! CRUNCHED! Full-length delivery, outside off. Reeza Hendricks makes room and smashes it aerially over the point region for a cracking boundary. |
| 4.4 : Karan KC to Reeza Hendricks, FOUR MORE! Lovely Shot! Full on the pad. Reeza Hendricks flicks it nicely through the mid-wicket region for back to back boundaries. |
| 4.5 : Karan KC to Reeza Hendricks, Pitched full, at the stumps. Reeza Hendricks pushes it toward mid-on for a single. |
| 4.6 : Karan KC to Aiden Markram, On a length, outside off. Aiden Markram punches it off the backfoot to the man at cover-point. |
| 5.1 : Kushal Malla to Reeza Hendricks, Drifted down the leg. Reeza Hendricks glances it toward short fine leg for a single. |
| 4.6 : Kushal Malla comes into the attack. |
| 5.2 : Kushal Malla to Aiden Markram, No run. |
| 5.3 : Kushal Malla to Aiden Markram, No run. |
| 5.4 : Kushal Malla to Aiden Markram, Tossed up on off, Markram drives to long off for a single to get off the mark. |
| 5.5 : Kushal Malla to Reeza Hendricks, LEG BYE! Darted down the leg. Reeza Hendricks backs away and works it off the pad toward short fine leg for an extra. |
| 5.6 : Kushal Malla to Aiden Markram, FOUR! PUT AWAY WITH EASE! Short and wide outside off. Aiden Markram rocks back and cuts it powerfully through covers for a boundary to end the powerplay. |
| 6.1 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, Sandeep Lamichhane starts with a sharp delivery. Full on middle-leg. Reeza Hendricks is rooted to his crease as he looks to defend and it turns sharply to beat the outside edge and go past the off-stump. |
| 6.2 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, No run. |
| 6.3 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, 1 run. |
| 6.4 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Aiden Markram, No run. |
| 6.5 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Aiden Markram, Bowls it full, just outside off. Aiden Markram brings out the reverse sweep but fails to connect and is hit on the pad. |
| 6.6 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Aiden Markram, Tossed up on the leg peg. Aiden Markram pushes it to long-on for a run. |
| 7.1 : Kushal Malla to Aiden Markram, 1 run. |
| 7.2 : Kushal Malla to Reeza Hendricks, FOUR! BANG! Tad short, on off. Reeza Hendricks goes back and pumps it past the bowler and down to the long-off boundary. Beats the man and goes into the ropes. |
| 7.3 : Kushal Malla to Reeza Hendricks, Flatter on off. Hendricks defends into covers. |
| 7.4 : Kushal Malla to Reeza Hendricks, Six! |
| 7.5 : Kushal Malla to Reeza Hendricks, No run. |
| 7.6 : Kushal Malla to Reeza Hendricks, Pitched full, on off. Hendricks bunts it back at the bowler. |
| 8.1 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Aiden Markram, Floated, down the leg. Aiden Markram works it through square leg and settles for a single. |
| 8.2 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, Googly, sliding down the leg. Reeza Hendricks goes back to nudge it away but misses and wears on the pad. |
| 8.3 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, No run. |
| 8.4 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, Wrong'un, on off. Reeza Hendricks comes forward and gets an inside edge onto the pad. |
| 8.5 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, Flatter leg break, outside off. Reeza Hendricks goes back and knocks it to sweeper cover for a single. |
| 8.6 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Aiden Markram, Googly, on the middle. Aiden Markram prods and defends it toward the backward point region. |
| 9.1 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, Bhurtel drops it short, on the middle and leg. Hendricks pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 9.2 : Kushal Bhurtel to Aiden Markram, Floated, full, turning away. Aiden Markram swings hard but fails to connect. |
| 9.3 : Kushal Bhurtel to Aiden Markram, Flatter on off. Punched to long-off for a single. |
| 9.4 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, Short ball, outside off. Reeza Hendricks goes back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for another run. |
| 9.5 : Kushal Bhurtel to Aiden Markram, No run. |
| 9.6 : Kushal Bhurtel to Aiden Markram, Googly, on the middle and leg. Aiden Markram knocks it to long-on for a single. |
| 0.0 : Time for Drinks! South Africa are going steady having lost just one wicket so far. They are facing a trial by spin thrown by the Nepalese bowlers. South Africa will need to kick on from here and look at the target of 160. For Nepal, they have bowled tidy lines and kept it tight but need wickets from hereon. |
| 10.1 : Abinash Bohara to Aiden Markram, No run. |
| 10.2 : Abinash Bohara to Aiden Markram, Good length on the off stump line, Aiden Markram stands tall and taps the ball in front of covers. |
| 10.3 : Abinash Bohara to Aiden Markram, FOUR! Wow, that has been lathered to the fence by Aiden Markram. A bit too full and outside off, Markram frees his arms and hammers it through covers for a boundary. |
| 10.4 : Abinash Bohara to Aiden Markram, 1 run. |
| 10.5 : Abinash Bohara to Reeza Hendricks, DROPPED AND FOUR! Pitched up on the stumps, Reeza Hendricks stays put and just lofts it straight over mid off and to the man at long off. Kushal Bhurtel makes amess of a simple chance and the ball goes through him to the fence as well. |
| 10.6 : Abinash Bohara to Reeza Hendricks, A low full toss now around middle, Reeza Hendricks reaches ahead and eases it to long on for a run. |
| 11.1 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, 1 run. |
| 11.2 : Who comes in next? |
| Kushal Bhurtel to Aiden Markram, OUT! DRAGGED ON! Kushal Bhurtel makes amends for the dropped catch and sends the Proteas skipper packing. Holds this one back and floats it up on a nagging length outside off. Aiden Markram waits for it but is still a bit early in the cover drive. The ball takes the inside edge and goes on the bounce to crash into the stumps. A timely wicket here for Nepal. |
| 11.3 : Kushal Bhurtel to Heinrich Klaasen, Shorter delivery on the pads, Heinrich Klaasen stays back and just tucks it behind square leg for a single. |
| 11.4 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, Another one on a shorter length and angled into the legs, Reeza Hendricks looks to go on the back foot and flick it away but finds the man at short fine leg. |
| 11.5 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, Oh, the spitting cobra there from Kushal Bhurtel. |
| 11.6 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, Floated up on the stumps, Reeza Hendricks pushes it away towards mid on. |
| 12.1 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Heinrich Klaasen, Beaten! Pushed through quicker on off and middle, the leggie pitches and turns away sharply. Heinrich Klaasen looks to block but then ball zips past the outside edge. |
| 12.2 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Heinrich Klaasen, DROPPED! A valiant effort from Sompal Kami but Heinrich Klaasen survives. |
| 12.3 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, 1 run. |
| 12.4 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Heinrich Klaasen, 1 run. |
| 12.5 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, Flatter again and around off, staying low, Reeza Hendricks jams the ball out in front of covers. |
| 12.6 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Reeza Hendricks, Another googly, turning in from middle, Reeza Hendricks gets it off the inner half of the bat behind square leg for a single. |
| 13.1 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, 1 run. |
| 13.2 : Who comes in next? |
| Kushal Bhurtel to Heinrich Klaasen, OUT! CAUGHT! Karan KC pulls off a stunning juggling act and Kushal Bhurtel has got the big fish here. |
| 13.3 : Kushal Bhurtel to David Miller, Wide! |
| Kushal Bhurtel to David Miller, Fuller and around off stump, driven away towards cover. |
| 13.4 : Kushal Bhurtel to David Miller, A prolonged appeal for LBW but it is turned down. Kushal Bhurtel floats this one up very full and on middle and leg. David Miller looks for the big sweep and tries to nail it hard through square leg but plays all around it. The umpire says no and Nepal have gone upstairs. No bat involved on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows the wickets as umpire's call. David Miller starts walking but the onfield decision stays. NOT OUT! |
| 13.5 : Kushal Bhurtel to David Miller, 1 run. |
| 13.6 : Kushal Bhurtel to Reeza Hendricks, Quick and short over middle stump, Reeza Hendricks rocks back and slaps the ball away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 14.1 : Abinash Bohara to Reeza Hendricks, Pitched up full on the middle stump, Reeza Hendricks drives it straight back but Abinash Bohara sticks out a right boot and deflects the ball towards cover. |
| 14.2 : Abinash Bohara to Reeza Hendricks, No run. |
| 14.3 : Abinash Bohara to Reeza Hendricks, Nice and full outside off stump, driven away towards long off for a single. |
| 14.4 : Abinash Bohara to David Miller, Comes from around the wicket to the left-hander and bowls it full and outside off. David Miller hammers the cover drive but straight to the man inside the ring. |
| 14.5 : Abinash Bohara to David Miller, 1 run. |
| 14.6 : Abinash Bohara to Reeza Hendricks, Too full and angling it into the leg peg, Reeza Hendricks clears the front leg and whips it down to long on for just one more. |
| 15.1 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Reeza Hendricks, Bowled flatter and from around the stumps, trying to angle it across the off stump, Reeza Hendricks swats it down to long on for a single. |
| 15.2 : Dipendra Singh Airee to David Miller, On the shorter side, turning away from outside off, David Miller backs away and taps the ball through covers for a single. |
| 15.3 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Reeza Hendricks, OUT! c & b Dipendra Singh Airee. |
| 15.4 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Tristan Stubbs, No run. |
| 15.5 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Tristan Stubbs, 1 run. |
| 0.0 : Tristan Stubbs is the new man in. |
| 15.6 : Dipendra Singh Airee to David Miller, Flatter and on the pads, David Miller flicks it away in front of square leg and looks for a brace, getting it with ease as well. |
| 16.1 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Tristan Stubbs, Fuller length, drifted in from around off stump, Tristan Stubbs punches the ball away straight to covers. |
| 16.2 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Tristan Stubbs, FOUR! Oh, dear! Karan KCÂ is beaten all ends up the spin on the ball. |
| 16.3 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Tristan Stubbs, Full again and around off, Tristan Stubbs brings out the reverse sweep and gets it towards third man for a couple of runs. |
| 16.4 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Tristan Stubbs, Too full, a low full toss on off stump, Tristan Stubbs drives it towards long off where the fielder comes in and fumbles the ball as the batters pick up a couple of runs. |
| 16.5 : Sandeep Lamichhane to Tristan Stubbs, 1 run. |
| 16.6 : Sandeep Lamichhane to David Miller, On middle and leg, David Miller stays put and tucks it neatly in front of square leg for a run. |
| 17.1 : Dipendra Singh Airee to David Miller, Quick and flat, on a dragged length around off, David Miller rocks back and punches it away in front of point for just a single. |
| 17.2 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Tristan Stubbs, Tries to spear it in across the off stump but ends up serving a low full toss, Tristan Stubbs hits it firmly down to long off and picks up a single. |
| 17.3 : Who comes in next? |
| Dipendra Singh Airee to David Miller, OUT! CAUGHT! Beautifully bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee and David Miller has to depart here. Nicely tossed up from around the stumps, a bit fuller and around off stump. Miller looks to hold his ground and heave across the line but the ball just turns a bit and gets sliced up off the outside edge. Sandeep Lamichhane at short third man takes a simple reverse-cup catch and Nepal get another big wicket. |
| 17.4 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Marco Jansen, 1 run. |
| 17.5 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Tristan Stubbs, Slows it up and floats it on the off stump, Tristan Stubbs shuffles across to the off side and mistimes the sweep straight to short fine leg for a single. |
| 17.6 : Dipendra Singh Airee to Marco Jansen, A bit flatter and trying to angle it across the stumps, Marco Jansen blocks it to the off side. |
| 18.1 : Abinash Bohara to Tristan Stubbs, Well-fielded! Too full and around off stump, Tristan Stubbs reverses it on the full and wide of short third where the fielder dives across and makes the save. Just the single then. |
| 18.2 : Abinash Bohara to Marco Jansen, Leg bye! Full again and around off stump, Marco Jansen looks to reverse-flick it away but misses and the ball goes off the pads to point. They get a leg bye. |
| 18.3 : Abinash Bohara to Tristan Stubbs, A slog and a miss! Full and in the blockhole outside off, slinging it away, Tristan Stubbs looks to reach out and smash it over covers but misses. |
| 18.4 : Abinash Bohara to Tristan Stubbs, Four! |
| 18.5 : Abinash Bohara to Tristan Stubbs, Pitched up, full and outside off stump, Tristan Stubbs smashes the ball on the up and straight back at the bowler who does brilliantly on the follow-through and pouches it without a fuss. |
| 18.6 : Abinash Bohara to Tristan Stubbs, Keeps it full and tries to angle it away, Tristan Stubbs brings out the drive but gets an inside edge to the leg side for a single. |
| 19.1 : Kushal Bhurtel to Tristan Stubbs, SIX! BANG! That's the risk with a spinner bowling the final over. Tossed up on the stumps, Tristan Stubbs reaches forward and powers the ball away over the man at long on for a maximum. |
| 19.2 : Kushal Bhurtel to Tristan Stubbs, Tossed up again, outside off stump, Tristan Stubbs reaches out and slaps the ball away towards deep cover for a couple of runs. |
| 19.3 : Kushal Bhurtel to Tristan Stubbs, Trying too much there, Tristan Stubbs. Nicely flighted outside off and turning away. Stubbs tries to reverse sweep but misses and gets hit on the hands. |
| 19.4 : Kushal Bhurtel to Tristan Stubbs, 1 run. |
| 19.5 : Kushal Bhurtel to Marco Jansen, OUT! TALEN! Kushal Bhurtel with his third wicket and what a bowling performance this has been from Nepal. Bhurtel goes into the pitch and slows it up, getting the ball to turn away from off stump. Marco Jansen goes on the back foot and looks to slog it over long on but the connection isn't there. Anil Sah there dives across to his right and manages to hold onto the catch. |
| Kagiso Rabada is the new man in. |
| 19.6 : Kushal Bhurtel to Kagiso Rabada, OUT! STUMPED! Kushal Bhurtel ends with a four-fer and Nepal will be ecstatic with that bowling display. Burtel tosses the ball up on a dragged length on leg stump. Kagiso Rabada steps out to go big over long on but gets beaten all ends up and Aasif Sheikh has an easy stumping job to do behind the stumps. South Africa finish with a meager total of 115 for 7 on the board. |
| 0.0 : A terrific bowling display from Nepal has restricted South Africa to 115 for 7 in their 20 overs. Having inserted into bat first, South Africa lost de Kock early but Hendricks and Markram stuck around and added 46 for the second wicket. The wicket of Markram brought in a slide as Klaasen and Miller followed him quickly into the pavilion. Reeza Hendricks was the top scorer with a sluggish 43 off 49 while Tristan Stubbs with an unbeaten 27 off 18, stuck a few lusty blows to take this side to a fig |
| For Nepal, the spinners came to the party and barely gave freebies to the Proteasâ batters. Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Bhurtel were the pick of the bowlers with three and four wickets respectively while the rest of the attack was fairly economical. Rohit Paudel used 14 overs of spin on this pitch and it did wonders for them. Nepal will be pleased with their bowling effort but they still have the job in hand with the bat. |
| Kushal Bhurtel is up for a chat. He says the wicket was a bit slow and his role was to bowl disciplined lines. Adds that the light got a bit into his eyes when he dropped that catch and reckons they have a real chance to beat a Test-playing nation. Shares it is a slow wicket but they can win. |
| Right then, Nepal needs 116 to win and create history as they are facing a high-quality Test-playing nation. Can the batters continue to good work done by the bowlers and chase this down or will the South African pace attack come charging at Nepal? We shall find out. Join us in a bit for the second essay. |
| â¦THE RUN CHASE⦠|
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