England hold off Nepal's spirited display in Mumbai to win T20 World Cup opener
T20 World Cup 2026: Nepal pushed England to the final over in a thrilling T20 World Cup opener at Wankhede but fell agonizingly short by four runs. Their 12-year wait for a World Cup win continues despite a valiant effort.
Nepal delivered one of their most spirited performances in recent memory but agonisingly fell short, losing to England by just four runs in their T20 World Cup group-stage clash at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, February 8.
ENG vs NEP, T20 World Cup 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
The result extended Nepal's wait for a World Cup victory to 12 years, with their last triumph coming back in 2014 against Hong Kong and Afghanistan.
Wankhede Turns Blue and Red
The stadium was a sea of Nepali colours as fans, donning blue jerseys and red, packed the stands, easily outnumbering the England supporters. They roared at every dot ball and celebrated every wicket, creating an electric atmosphere that reflected the passion for cricket in the Himalayan nation.
When Nepal needed 10 runs off the final over with Lokesh Bam at the crease, it seemed the ultimate underdog story was within reach. But heartbreak followed as England held their nerve to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Captain Harry Brook faced a stern examination of both his leadership and batting abilities. He responded emphatically with a vital half-century that steadied England after early wobbles. Brook's knock of 50 off 32 balls, featuring four sixes and three fours, formed the backbone of England's recovery.
He forged a crucial 71-run partnership with Jacob Bethell for the fourth wicket, guiding his side out of trouble against a determined Nepal bowling attack.
Nepal Strike Early Blows
Sher Malla set the tone for Nepal's aggressive bowling display, trapping Phil Salt for just one run on the first ball of his second over. The pressure continued when Nandan Yadav dismissed England's Jos Buttler for 26 just as he was starting to settle alongside Bethell. Yadav pitched one outside off stump to have Buttler caught behind in the fifth over for Nepal's second wicket.
Spinner Sandeep Lamichhane then struck in the seventh over, trapping Tom Banton leg-before as he attempted a reverse sweep. At that point, England were in genuine trouble. However, Bethell, who had blazed two fours and a six off his first four balls, combined with Brook to rebuild the innings on the same two-paced pitch where India had stumbled to 77 for six the previous night.
While England didn't face quite the same batting struggles as India, none of their batters could truly dominate until Will Jacks arrived. He smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls, hammering four sixes and a four to help England plunder 45 runs in the final three overs. This late surge proved decisive, pushing the target just beyond Nepal's reach.
Nepal's Valiant Chase Falls Short
Kushal Bhurtel gave Nepal a flying start in the power play with some aggressive strokes. Even after his dismissal, Rahul Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee stitched together a fine partnership to keep the chase alive. The Nepali fielders held onto their catches throughout, while Airee (2/23) and Yadav (2/25) claimed two wickets each. Malla and Lamichhane also chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.
Despite pushing England to the brink and taking the contest deep into the final over, Nepal's brave effort ended in heartbreak. Their 12-year wait for a T20 World Cup victory continues, and the crushing nature of this defeat will weigh heavily if they cannot turn things around in their remaining group matches.
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Nepal delivered one of their most spirited performances in recent memory but agonisingly fell short, losing to England by just four runs in their T20 World Cup group-stage clash at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, February 8.
ENG vs NEP, T20 World Cup 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
The result extended Nepal's wait for a World Cup victory to 12 years, with their last triumph coming back in 2014 against Hong Kong and Afghanistan.
Wankhede Turns Blue and Red
The stadium was a sea of Nepali colours as fans, donning blue jerseys and red, packed the stands, easily outnumbering the England supporters. They roared at every dot ball and celebrated every wicket, creating an electric atmosphere that reflected the passion for cricket in the Himalayan nation.
When Nepal needed 10 runs off the final over with Lokesh Bam at the crease, it seemed the ultimate underdog story was within reach. But heartbreak followed as England held their nerve to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Captain Harry Brook faced a stern examination of both his leadership and batting abilities. He responded emphatically with a vital half-century that steadied England after early wobbles. Brook's knock of 50 off 32 balls, featuring four sixes and three fours, formed the backbone of England's recovery.
He forged a crucial 71-run partnership with Jacob Bethell for the fourth wicket, guiding his side out of trouble against a determined Nepal bowling attack.
Nepal Strike Early Blows
Sher Malla set the tone for Nepal's aggressive bowling display, trapping Phil Salt for just one run on the first ball of his second over. The pressure continued when Nandan Yadav dismissed England's Jos Buttler for 26 just as he was starting to settle alongside Bethell. Yadav pitched one outside off stump to have Buttler caught behind in the fifth over for Nepal's second wicket.
Spinner Sandeep Lamichhane then struck in the seventh over, trapping Tom Banton leg-before as he attempted a reverse sweep. At that point, England were in genuine trouble. However, Bethell, who had blazed two fours and a six off his first four balls, combined with Brook to rebuild the innings on the same two-paced pitch where India had stumbled to 77 for six the previous night.
While England didn't face quite the same batting struggles as India, none of their batters could truly dominate until Will Jacks arrived. He smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls, hammering four sixes and a four to help England plunder 45 runs in the final three overs. This late surge proved decisive, pushing the target just beyond Nepal's reach.
Nepal's Valiant Chase Falls Short
Kushal Bhurtel gave Nepal a flying start in the power play with some aggressive strokes. Even after his dismissal, Rahul Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee stitched together a fine partnership to keep the chase alive. The Nepali fielders held onto their catches throughout, while Airee (2/23) and Yadav (2/25) claimed two wickets each. Malla and Lamichhane also chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.
Despite pushing England to the brink and taking the contest deep into the final over, Nepal's brave effort ended in heartbreak. Their 12-year wait for a T20 World Cup victory continues, and the crushing nature of this defeat will weigh heavily if they cannot turn things around in their remaining group matches.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score