In a thrilling T20 World Cup encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on February 8, England narrowly escaped a major upset to defeat Nepal by just four runs. England's total of 184/7 built on aggressive half-centuries from Jacob Bethell and captain Harry Brook.
Nepal get standing ovation after taking England head-on
Nepal’s pursuit of the target was characterised by incredible resilience and mature batting from Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee. Their middle-order partnership brought the associate nation within touching distance of a historic victory, keeping the Mumbai crowd on the edge of their seats. However, England’s experienced bowling attack delivered under immense pressure, key strikes at pivotal moments stalled Nepal's progress and left them agonisingly short of the 185-run target.
Although they suffered a heartbreaking four-run loss, the entire Nepal squad was met with a resounding standing ovation from the Wankhede Stadium crowd during their lap of honor. The atmosphere remained celebratory as fans recognized the grit and skill the associate nation displayed against a powerhouse like England.
The turnout for the match was particularly impressive, with over 17,000 fans in attendance—a significant draw for a fixture not involving the Indian team. A massive and passionate contingent of Nepal supporters dominated the stands, creating a vibrant sea of red and blue and providing a vocal backdrop that lasted until the final ball.
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Nepal give England a run for their money
England's innings began on a shaky note after Sher Malla struck early, dismissing the dangerous Phil Salt for just one run in the second over. Despite the early setback, Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell stabilized the ship with a brisk 38-run partnership. However, Nepal's Nandan Yadav broke the stand in the fifth over, removing Buttler for a quick 26. While England managed to reach a respectable 57/2 by the end of the powerplay, their situation worsened immediately after when Sandeep Lamichhane trapped Tom Banton leg-before for just two runs on his very first delivery. The momentum shifted back in England's favor as Jacob Bethell and captain Harry Brook joined forces for a vital 71-run stand. Bethell’s impressive debut featured a 34-ball 55, making him only the second Englishman after Kevin Pietersen to score a half-century in his T20 World Cup debut. Captain Brook followed suit, contributing a crucial 53 off 32 balls before falling to Nandan Yadav. A late-innings explosion from Will Jacks, who smashed an unbeaten 39 off 18 balls, ultimately propelled England to a competitive total of 184.
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This innings was also notable for a historic milestone, as Jos Buttler officially surpassed Mahela Jayawardene to become the third-highest run-scorer in the history of the T20 World Cup. Nepal’s bowling unit remained competitive throughout, with Dipendra Singh Airee (2/23) and Nandan Yadav (2/25) leading the wicket tally, supported by tidy spells from Sandeep Lamichhane and Sher Malla.
In pursuit of 185, Nepal's chase began with significant intent as Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh powered the team to 31/0 within the first three overs. However, England quickly reasserted control; Liam Dawson claimed the first breakthrough by dismissing Aasif, followed by Will Jacks, who removed the dangerous Bhurtel for a brisk 29. By the end of the powerplay, Nepal’s momentum had slowed, leaving them at 47/2.The game shifted again as skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee combined for an 82-run third-wicket partnership. Their steady scoring applied immense pressure on the English attack, guiding Nepal to a comfortable 101/2 by the 12th over. The breakthrough England desperately needed finally came in the 15th over when Sam Curran dismissed Airee for a valiant 44, leaving the score at 125/3.
Nepal’s hopes suffered a double blow in the very next over as Liam Dawson claimed the wicket of Paudel for 39. Despite the mounting pressure, Lokesh Bam launched a fierce late-inning assault, smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 20 balls to bring Nepal within touching distance of victory. Ultimately, Nepal finished on 180/6, falling agonizingly short by just four runs. England’s disciplined bowling, led by Dawson (2/21), Luke Wood (1/31), and Curran (1/27), proved just enough to secure the win.