England gamers rejoice a wicket throughout their ICC Males’s T20 World Cup towards Nepal at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, February 08, 2026. — AFP
Lokesh Bam’s late fireworks proved in useless as England held on to beat Nepal by 4 runs in an exhilarating T20 World Cup 2026 match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday.
Chasing 185, Nepal started strongly as openers Kushal Bhurtel and wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh set the tone with aggressive stroke play. The 37-run partnership was damaged when Sheikh fell for seven off 9 balls, dismissed by Liam Dawson.
Within the closing over of the powerplay, Bhurtel was dismissed for 29 off 17 deliveries, that includes 4 boundaries and a six, leaving Nepal at 42 for two in 5.2 overs.
Skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee then steadied the innings, including a 50-run partnership to take Nepal previous the 100-run mark in 12 overs. Airee appeared set for his eleventh T20I half-century, troubling England’s bowlers with highly effective strokes.
Nonetheless, Sam Curran broke the 82-run stand by dismissing Airee for 44 off 29 balls, which included six fours and a six.
Shortly after, Rohit Paudel fell to Liam Dawson for 39 off 34 deliveries, that includes two fours and two sixes, lowering Nepal to 126 for 4 in 15.3 overs.
Nepal misplaced additional momentum as Aarif Sheikh was caught by Jofra Archer for 10 off eight balls, together with a six, leaving the facet at 5 wickets down.
Lokesh Bam fought again, hitting consecutive sixes off Archer to deliver Nepal nearer, with 24 runs wanted from the ultimate two overs.
Within the nineteenth over, Mark Wooden conceded 14 runs however took the important thing wicket of Gulsan Jha for one, leaving Nepal needing 10 runs off the final over.
Sam Curran bowled the ultimate over, conceding 5 runs as Nepal fell simply brief. Lokesh was the standout for Nepal, scoring a fast 39 off 20 balls with 4 boundaries and two sixes.
Batting first, England made a poor begin as opener Phil Salt was dismissed cheaply for one off two deliveries, eliminated by Sher Malla on the primary ball of the second over.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell then stabilised the innings, scoring at a brisk tempo with boundaries flowing freely.
Nonetheless, Nandan Yadav had different plans, dismissing Buttler for an important 26 off 17 deliveries, together with 5 boundaries, leaving England reeling at 43-2 in 4.3 overs.
Strain continued to mount as England misplaced Tom Banton on the primary supply of the seventh over, dismissed by Sandeep Lamichhane for 2 off 5 balls.
Bethell and captain Harry Brook steadied the innings with a wise partnership, guiding the group towards a aggressive complete as Bethell introduced up his third T20I fifty and helped the facet cross the 100-run mark.
The duo put collectively a 71-run partnership, which ended when Dipendra Singh Airee claimed the vital wicket of Jacob Bethell.
Bethell completed his essential innings with 55 runs off 35 balls, hitting 4 boundaries and 4 sixes, taking the group to 128-4 in 13.4 overs.
England have been 5 wickets down when Airee struck once more, taking the wicket of Sam Curran. It was Airee’s second of the match, and Curran was dismissed after scoring simply two runs off eight deliveries.
Brook continued to pile on runs for his facet, taking the full previous the 150-run mark and incomes a well-deserved sixth T20I fifty.
Nonetheless, after reaching his milestone, Nandan Yadav claimed the important thing wicket, ending the captain’s valiant innings of 53 runs off 32 balls, which included 4 boundaries and three sixes.
Will Jacks remained unbeaten, enjoying a fiery 18-ball 39 that included one boundary and 4 sixes, whereas Archer was run out for one off three deliveries.
