Originally posted by: Viswasruti
🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Match 31: South Africa vs Nepal, Kingstown @5:00 PM IST🏏
South Africa is set to face Nepal for the first time on the international stage in the T20 World Cup 2024. The match will take place in Kingstown.
South Africa comes into this game with a perfect record, having won all three of their matches. Nepal, on the other hand, has yet to win a match and has played only one full game due to weather interruptions.
It wasn't surprising that South Africa's men's T20 World Cup squad were supplied with potentially valuable information before they had even checked in to their accommodation in Kingstown.
"When we arrived at 3 am our bus driver told me that when the sea is rough there's bounce and pace, and when the sea is calm it spins," Rob Walter told a press conference on Wednesday.
"Most importantly, I want us to be able to respond to the conditions in front of us and be able to figure out a method to win."
So far, so good. South Africa overcame the challenges presented by Nassau County's erratic pitch and sluggish outfield well enough to reel off wins against Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Bangladesh.
Another success over Nepal at Arnos Vale on Saturday and they will sail into the Super Eights - which they have already reached - with an unblemished record.
Sandeep Lamichhane stands in their way of doing so. Nepal's best player has yet to make it onto the field in the tournament because he was denied a United States visa and the team's first two matches were in Dallas and Lauderhill.
Whether Lamichhane's conviction and subsequent acquittal for rape in Nepal was the reason for such a decision has not been disclosed by the US government.
But there is little doubt that his return - he has not played an international since November - will be key to Nepal's chances.
Even so, anything except a resounding South Africa win will raise the alarm that, despite their performance so far, they are not as prepared for the business end of the tournament as they would like.
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