Nepal came oh so close to a famous upset overnight in St Vincent as they lost by just one run against South Africa.

Some inspired bowling by Nepal, particularly by Kushal Bhurtel (4-19) and Dipendra Singh Airee (3-21) restricted South Africa to 115-7 from their 20 overs, with 43 by Reeza Hendricks their top score.

Aasif Sheikh and Anil Sah put on fifty for the third wicket in the Nepal reply as Nepal closed in on their target. Sah was out for 27 in the 14th over and heading into the final three overs, Nepal needed 18 with seven wickets in hand.

Tabraiz Shamsi swung the game back towards South Africa by taking two wickets - including that of Sheikh for 42 - for 2 runs in the 18th over. A dot started the 19th over before Anrich Nortje bowled Kushal Malla from the second. Sompal Kami hit a six from the fifth ball then two from the last to leave Nepal needing eight from the last.

Ottneil Baartman was chosen to bowl the last, and started with two dots before Gulsan Jha hit a four, followed by a two. Two needed from two balls and Baartman bowled a dot. Jha couldn't get his bat on a short ball from the last, but the batters tried to run a single to force a super over. Jha couldn't make it though and it was heartbreak for Nepal.

A fighting performance by Nepal and it will be one that will give hope to the Netherlands, as they need Nepal to beat Bangladesh on Sunday evening to have any hope of progression. South Africa's next game will be in the Super Eight stage against USA on Wednesday in Antigua.