England's Close Call
The T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed an absolute humdinger at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, where England managed to escape with a nail-biting 4-run victory against
a remarkably resilient Nepal. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with momentum swinging wildly, ultimately decided in the final over. Nepal, despite falling agonizingly short, showcased immense fighting spirit and can hold their heads high after pushing a formidable English side to their absolute limits. The tension was palpable as Sam Curran bowled the final over, defending 10 runs, and managed to seal the win, leaving Nepal's players in despair but their fans immensely proud of the performance.
England Sets Target
England, batting first, posted a challenging total of 184/7, though their innings was far from seamless. Early wickets, including Phil Salt's departure for just 1 run, put them under pressure. However, solid contributions from Jacob Bethell, who scored an impressive 55 on his T20 World Cup debut, and Harry Brook with his fluent 53, provided much-needed stability. The middle order faced disciplined bowling from Nepal's spinners, Sandeep Lamichhane and Dipendra Singh Airee, who effectively choked the run flow. Crucially, Will Jacks provided a late surge of momentum, smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls, which propelled England to their competitive score. Jos Buttler also reached a significant personal milestone, climbing to third on the all-time T20 World Cup run-scoring charts, surpassing Mahela Jayawardene.
Nepal's Fearless Chase
In response, Nepal embarked on a fearless chase, showing no signs of intimidation against the English attack. Despite losing openers Aasif Sheikh early and Kushal Bhurtel falling for a quickfire 29 within the Powerplay, the game remained wide open. The turning point in Nepal's innings came through a significant partnership between captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee. They stitched together a vital 82-run stand off just 54 balls, skillfully navigating the English bowlers and putting immense pressure back on the opposition. Airee was particularly impactful, scoring 44 and achieving a personal milestone by becoming the first Nepalese batter to surpass 2000 T20I runs, demonstrating Nepal's growing prowess in the format.
Nervy Finale
As Nepal approached the business end of the chase, England's bowlers dug deep to regain control. Liam Dawson and Sam Curran were instrumental in breaking crucial partnerships. Dipendra Singh Airee's departure in the 15th over, followed shortly by Rohit Paudel for 39, shifted the momentum back towards England. However, Lokesh Bam refused to give up, launching a blistering counter-attack with an unbeaten 39 off just 20 balls, keeping Nepal's hopes alive until the very last ball. Despite Bam's heroic efforts, the experience of England's bowlers, particularly Sam Curran in the final over, proved just enough to secure a dramatic 4-run victory. Nepal finished on 180 for 6, falling agonizingly short of a historic upset.
Player of the Match & Standouts
Will Jacks was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match for his impactful all-round performance, contributing a crucial 39 runs with the bat and taking 1 wicket for 17 runs with the ball. He acknowledged Nepal's outstanding effort, noting the challenging surface and their excellent spin bowling. For England, Liam Dawson was a standout bowler, delivering an economical spell of 4-0-21-2. However, the pace duo of Jofra Archer and Luke Wood were expensive, while Adil Rashid went wicketless. Nepal's performance, led by the valiant efforts of Lokesh Bam and the batting prowess of Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee, earned widespread admiration, highlighting their significant progress on the international stage.
![[WATCH] 'Real Madrid, Ramadan and rest' - Mohammed Siraj how last-minute World Cup call-up changed February plan](https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/ByYT_LEmlrD0.webp)
