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- England vs Nepal Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Sam Curran holds his nerve as England beat Nepal in last-over thriller
England vs Nepal Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Sam Curran holds his nerve as England beat Nepal in last-over thriller
Batting first, England endured a shaky beginning as Phil Salt departed for one in the second over. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell countered with a brisk stand, adding 38 for the second wicket before Nandan Yadav removed Buttler for 26. England reached 57 for two in the powerplay but slipped again when Sandeep Lamichhane trapped Tom Banton lbw with the first ball after the fielding restrictions.
Bethell and Harry Brook then rebuilt with composure, combining for a crucial 71-run partnership. Bethell impressed on debut, scoring 55 off 34 balls to become only the second Englishman after Kevin Pietersen to register a fifty on T20 World Cup debut. Brook followed with a well-paced 53 from 32 balls before falling to Yadav. Will Jacks provided the late thrust, smashing an unbeaten 39 off 18 to lift England to 184. Along the way, Buttler surpassed Mahela Jayawardene to climb to third on the all-time T20 World Cup run-scoring list.
Nepal responded fearlessly, surging to 31 without loss inside three overs. England fought back through Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, reducing Nepal to 47 for two in the powerplay. Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee then applied sustained pressure, taking Nepal to 101 after 12 overs.
Sam Curran broke the dangerous stand by removing Airee for 44, and Dawson followed by dismissing Paudel soon after. Despite Lokesh Bam’s unbeaten 39 off 20 balls, Nepal finished on 180 for six.
England’s bowlers held their nerve in the closing moments, with Curran calmly defending the final over to seal a narrow but hard-earned victory.
- Rohit Paudel 39 (33)
- Aarif Sheikh 1 (2)
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, Swing and a miss! Bangs this into the pitch, on off, pace on this time. Rohit Paudel gets hurried on his pull shot and misses. Just 2 runs and a wicket from the over. 60 needed from 30 balls now.
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, Short of a length and just around off, Rohit Paudel tries the reverse ramp but misses due to the lack of pace.
Sam Curran to Aarif Sheikh, On a length and on off, Aarif Sheikh pushes it towards extra cover for a single.
Sam Curran to Aarif Sheikh, Play and a miss! Fuller and around off, angling away, Aarif Sheikh looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.
England get the much-needed breakthrough here. Aarif Sheikh comes out to the middle now.
Sam Curran to Dipendra Singh Airee, OUT! TAKEN! Sam Curran gets the wicket England were desperate for, and the Drinks break bears fruit for them. This is a slower one, full and outside off. Dipendra Singh Airee looks to take it on and go big down the ground, but ends up slicing it as his bat turns in his hands. It flies towards deep extra cover, where Tom Banton takes a good catch under pressure. The stand worth 82 (54) has been broken and England will take a sigh of relief.
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, A low full toss, on off, Rohit Paudel drives it to sweeper cover for a single.
Adil Rashid’s first over after the Power Play did not go as planned. The leg-spinner conceded 13 runs in the seventh over, allowing Nepal to release some of the pressure. Will Jacks followed with another costly over, giving away 10 runs in the eighth as the asking rate stayed within reach.
Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee played with growing confidence through this period. Both batters found the boundary regularly, mixing placement with clean hitting to keep Nepal firmly in the contest. Rather than forcing shots, they waited for errors and capitalised whenever England missed their lengths.
The momentum peaked in the 14th over when Rashid returned and was taken for 19 runs. Nepal attacked him with intent, turning what had been a controlled chase into one that suddenly put England on the back foot.
By the end of the 14th over, Nepal had not only stabilised after early wickets but also shifted the energy of the game. The chase was well and truly alive.
DRINKS! What a sensational turnaround this has been from Nepal! Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee have completely shifted the momentum with a blistering 81-run stand off just 52 deliveries, putting the pressure right back on the English bowlers. With 62 needed from the final 36 balls, the game is beautifully poised on a knife-edge. England look rattled and will need to find a way to break this partnership immediately. Let's see how it ends.
- Dipendra Singh Airee 44 (28)
- Rohit Paudel 38 (30)
Adil Rashid to Dipendra Singh Airee, SIX! 19 runs off this Adil Rashid over! The leggie gives this one some more air, full and around middle. Dipendra Singh Airee changes his stance early and absolutely nails the reverse batted shot. He hits it so well that it sails over the man at deep point for half a dozen of runs.
Adil Rashid to Dipendra Singh Airee, FOUR! Wow...top shot! Tossed up, full and around off, Dipendra Singh Airee does not try to hit it hard. He just leans on to his drive and creams it through covers for a boundary. Nepal are really taking on Rashid here.
Adil Rashid to Rohit Paudel, Flighted, full and on middle, Rohit Paudel slog sweeps it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for one.
Adil Rashid to Rohit Paudel, SIX! SMOKED! Adil Rashid bowls the googly. but drops it short, turning into leg. Rohit Paudel picks up the length early, rocks back and whacks it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.
Adil Rashid to Dipendra Singh Airee, Slightly shorter in length, quicker as well, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee punches it to long off for a run.
Adil Rashid to Rohit Paudel, Flatter, full and around leg, Rohit Paudel goes down and paddles it to short fine for a single. The running between the wickets between these two has been fantastic.
- Rohit Paudel 30 (27)
- Dipendra Singh Airee 33 (25)
Jofra Archer to Rohit Paudel, Pitched up and on middle, angling in, Rohit Paudel slogs it wide of long on, just one more. 3 runs off the over, tidy from Archer!
Jofra Archer to Dipendra Singh Airee, In the air...safe! Back of a length and on middle, takes off a bit. Dipendra Singh Airee looks to pull but gets a top edge. Jos Buttler, the keeper runs to his left but the ball drops safely in the square leg region. They cross.
Jofra Archer to Dipendra Singh Airee, Sharp bowling! Jofra Archer bangs in a quick bouncer now, Dipendra Singh Airee sways away and decides late to play the upper cut but fails to connect.
Jofra Archer to Rohit Paudel, Cannot get it away! Short of a length and down the leg side, begging to be put away. Rohit Paudel hooks it but fails to beat fine leg. A single taken.
Jofra Archer to Rohit Paudel, Goes fuller and just outside off, Rohit Paudel opens up his stance to go over covers but misses.
Jofra Archer to Rohit Paudel, Uppish but safe! Change in pace first up. Good length and on off, at 110 clicks, Rohit Paudel goes through his push early and lobs it in the air but it lands well in front of extra cover.
- Rohit Paudel 28 (23)
- Dipendra Singh Airee 32 (23)
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, Hard length and outside off, takes pace off, Rohit Paudel makes room and stabs it out towards backward point. He sets off for the run and scampers across to the other end, with the fielder missing his shy at the bowling end. Nepal need 84 runs in 48 balls.
Sam Curran to Dipendra Singh Airee, Back of a length and on off, Dipendra Singh Airee dabs it towards backward point for one. 100 UP FOR NEPAL!
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, Hits the length hard, on leg, Rohit Paudel backs away and forces it down to long on for another run.
Sam Curran to Dipendra Singh Airee, Pitched up and around off, Dipendra Singh Airee drives it to sweeper cover for a run.
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, Full but on the pads, Rohit Paudel glances it towards fine leg for a single.
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, FOUR! Gets it away! A loopy off-cutter, full and around middle. Rohit Paudel backs away very early. He has to wait for it but manages to get it through extra covers for a boundary.
Sam Curran has been introduced into the attack. His off-pace deliveries will come in handy on this wicket.
Sam Curran to Rohit Paudel, WIDE! Starts with a fuller one but down the leg side, Rohit Paudel misses his flick. Called a wide. The fifty stand comes up!
- Dipendra Singh Airee 30 (21)
- Rohit Paudel 21 (19)
Liam Dawson to Dipendra Singh Airee, Flatter, short and on off, Dipendra Singh Airee punches it wide of the bowler. Liam Dawson moves to his right quickly, dives and stops it with his right hand.
Liam Dawson to Rohit Paudel, Quicker one, full and on the pads, Rohit Paudel tucks it towards short fine for one.
Liam Dawson to Rohit Paudel, Swing and a miss! Slower through the air, full and around off, grips and turns away sharply. Rohit Paudel goes down for the slog sweep but fails to connect.
Liam Dawson to Dipendra Singh Airee, Flatter, full and on leg, Dipendra Singh Airee clips it away to deep square leg for a single.
Liam Dawson to Dipendra Singh Airee, FOUR! That is a superb shot! Tossed up, full and outside off. Dipendra Singh Airee whips his hands through the shot, reaches out and carves it over extra cover for a boundary.
Liam Dawson to Dipendra Singh Airee, Floated, full and on middle, Dipendra Singh Airee drills it down the pitch. Liam Dawson dives to his left on the follow-through to make the stop.
- Rohit Paudel 20 (17)
- Dipendra Singh Airee 25 (17)
Adil Rashid to Rohit Paudel, FOUR! Through the gap and Nepal are starting to believe! Flatter, just outside off, Rohit Paudel gets down on one knee and chips it in the gap through extra cover as the ball races away to the fence. 100 needed off 60 balls.
Adil Rashid to Dipendra Singh Airee, Quicker, on middle, Dipendra Singh Airee turns it to square leg for a run.
Adil Rashid to Dipendra Singh Airee, FOUR! Some innovation from Dipendra Singh Airee! Flatter, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee changes his stance and reverse sweeps it over backward point for a boundary.
Adil Rashid to Dipendra Singh Airee, Adil Rashid keeps it full, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee pushes it to the left of the bowler.
Adil Rashid to Rohit Paudel, Quicker, on middle and leg, Rohit Paudel makes room and fends it to wide mid on for a single.
Adil Rashid to Rohit Paudel, Short, outside off, Rohit Paudel cuts it to the fielder at cover-point.
- Dipendra Singh Airee 20 (14)
- Rohit Paudel 15 (14)
Liam Dawson to Dipendra Singh Airee, Much fuller, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee pushes it to the fielder at extra cover.
Liam Dawson to Dipendra Singh Airee, Flatter, on off, and it bounces a bit extra. Dipendra Singh Airee is caught by surprise as he looks to block it. The ball hits the upper part of his bat. It lobs and lands safely in the vacant silly point region. Dot.
Liam Dawson to Rohit Paudel, Fired in, on middle, Rohit Paudel knocks it to mid off for a single.
Liam Dawson to Dipendra Singh Airee, Quicker and shorter, on middle, Dipendra Singh Airee punches it to wide of extra cover for a single.
Liam Dawson to Rohit Paudel, Flatter, on middle, Rohit Paudel stays back and flicks it to square leg for a single.
Liam Dawson replaces Adil Rashid.
Liam Dawson to Rohit Paudel, Good running between the wickets! Nepal batters are putting some pressure on the English team. Full, on middle, Rohit Paudel flicks it to mid-wicket for a brace. The partnership moves to 30 off 17 balls.
- Dipendra Singh Airee 19 (11)
- Rohit Paudel 11 (11)
Will Jacks to Dipendra Singh Airee, FOUR! Excellent way to finish the over! Flatter, full and on leg, Dipendra Singh Airee gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. They are growing in confidence here.
Will Jacks to Dipendra Singh Airee, Beaten! Short and wide, with a hint of turn. Dipendra Singh Airee tries to cut it but gets beaten.
England’s innings never fully settled. Phil Salt fell early, and while Buttler and Bethell added quick runs, Nepal kept striking at regular intervals. The turning point came through a vital 71-run stand between Bethell and Brook, which steadied England after early losses. Bethell’s 55 on debut and Brook’s fluent 53 provided the backbone, before Will Jacks’ late unbeaten 39 ensured England finished strongly.
Nepal’s chase began with real intent as Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh raced out of the blocks. England responded through Liam Dawson and Will Jacks to claw back control, but Nepal refused to fade. Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee stitched together a vital partnership that kept the chase alive deep into the innings.
Just when Nepal looked capable of pulling off a famous upset, England struck twice in quick succession through Sam Curran and Dawson. Despite a late assault from Lokesh Bam, Nepal fell agonisingly short on 180 for six.
England’s bowlers delivered under pressure, and Curran’s calm execution in the final over sealed a narrow victory. The contest underlined Nepal’s growing stature on the global stage while allowing England to escape with four crucial points.
Match Statistics
Venue
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
