Experienced campaigner Sam Curran became England’s saviour as they were staring down the barrel with Nepal coming close to the target set by them. In the last over, Nepal needed 10 runs to win with Lokesh Bam on strike, who was going all guns blazing. Nepal was close to pulling off the first major upset of T20 World Cup 2026 but Curran used his experience to save England from the embarrassment. While the all-rounder executed his plans perfectly by conceding just five runs, he revealed that he had flashbacks of the 2016 T20 World Cup final when Carlos Brathwaite smashed Ben Stokes for four sixes in the last over to win the trophy. Curran also recalled what he told captain Harry Brook before the final over.
“I said to Brooky, 'I'm backing six yorkers here, and I'll take the hit if I don't execute'. I think you've got to think like that," Curran told the BBC's Test Match Special.
"I weirdly thought of the 2016 final, when Carlos got hold of Stokesy, and I was thinking, 'Well, if I execute, he's not going to hit me for six.' At the top of my mark, I just watched [the batter's] feet and thankfully executed. Those games are great if you win, but it would have been a horrible one to lose."
Curran lauded Nepal for their exceptional performance and branded them a ‘dangerous team’ in the ongoing T20 World Cup.
"Fair play to Nepal, they were absolutely incredible," he said. "I was pretty nervous there, but we got it done.
"It just shows the strength in depth in world cricket at the moment. The Associate nations are playing more often and they're getting so much better. They're getting exposed to better cricket and better grounds… They are a dangerous team throughout this World Cup so we'll watch out for them."
Curran makes up for low score
Curran conceded 27 runs from his full quota of four overs. Earlier, he had dismissed Dipendra Singh Airee who scored 44 runs from 29 balls. The all-rounder was not impressive with the bat, scoring just two runs from eight balls. Airee got rid of him in the 16th over.