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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.
Luke Wood to Kushal Bhurtel, Low full toss, on middle. Kushal Bhurtel rolls his wrists and flicks it through square leg for a single. Bhurtel is off the mark!
Luke Wood to Kushal Bhurtel, Back of a length again, on middle, Kushal Bhurtel nudges it to mid-wicket.
Luke Wood to Kushal Bhurtel, Beaten straight away! Wood pitches it back of a length, shaping it away. Kushal Bhurtel hangs back to punch it through cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge.
We are back for the chase! The English players have stepped on the green turf and now they are scattering to take their respective field positions. Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel will open the inning for Nepal. Luke Wood gets the new ball in hand and is raring to go with a slip in place. Off we go...
That late surge came after Nepal had fought back impressively through their trio of spinners, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Bhurtel. Between overs 14 and 17, England were kept quiet, managing just 19 runs as the ball held up and offered noticeable turn, especially for Lamichhane. Those conditions will be encouraging signs for Adil Rashid later in the contest.
However, England shifted gears at the death. The last three overs yielded 45 runs, undoing much of Nepal’s hard work and ensuring a strong finish. Earlier, there were valuable contributions from Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook. Bethell, the left-hander, benefited from some loose deliveries from Sher Malla, while Brook underlined his class with a couple of superbly struck sixes.
The final flourish was provided by Will Jacks, who overcame a scratchy start to accelerate when it mattered most, rounding off an innings that gathered momentum just in time.
... The Run Chase ...
Steep task ahead - Now then, 185 for a regular Wankhede wicket is not that big to chase down but we have already seen that this is not a typical Wankhede wicket. There is bounce and some assistance on offer for the spinners. England have the runs to defend and the spinners to wreak havoc. Can they start the tournament with a solid win? Or will Rohit Paudel and co push them to the brink? Let's find out as the run chase is up next.
Nepal's inexperience at the death - Nepal have plenty of bowling options and although the lengths weren't the best for a large part of the innings, they managed to get regular breakthroughs. Sher Malla picked up a wicket off his very first delivery in T20Is and set the ball rolling. His good work was followed up by the senior pro, Sandeep Lamichhane and for a large part of the final 10 overs, Nepal seemed to be in control. The last 3 overs will certainly hurt, but how much? Only time will tell.
England's erratic batting - England are one of those teams that go hell for leather no matter what team they are playing against. However, they lost a couple of wickets inside the Powerplay and barring a 71-run stand between Jacob Bethell and captain Harry Brook, there weren't enough stands in order to lay a stable platform. However, twin fifties from Bethell and Brook, coupled with a flourish in the last over from Will Jacks has taken England to a very solid total.
A game of momentum - As many as 45 runs come in the last 3 overs of the innings and Nepal have seemingly thrown away what was heading towards a very decent bowling performance against a champion side. England seemed to be blowing hot and cold all throughout the first 20 overs but Will Jacks has handed the side a momentum boost, which could be so crucial.
- Will Jacks 39 (18)
- Liam Dawson 0 (0)
Karan KC to Will Jacks, SIX! And this is why Jacks needed to play the entire over! Full and wide outside off, Will Jacks leans into the shot and lofts it beautifully over cover to end the innings in style! 21 in the final over and ENGLAND END ON 184/7!
One ball left. Liam Dawson is in at number 9, replacing Jofra Archer but it will be Jacks on strike.
Karan KC to Jofra Archer, OUT! JOFRA ARCHER IS RUN OUT. Sacrificial lamb. Which makes the previous single even more dumbfounding. On a length, outside off, Archer swings for the ocean but misses. The keeper collects and the batters go for the bye. The keeper lobs the ball to the bowler who runs back and calmly takes the bails off with Archer nowhere in the frame. Archer departs for 1 (3) and England are 178/7 after 19.5 overs.
Karan KC to Will Jacks, Surprising. The single is taken. One would have thought Jacks would play the entire over. Another slower ball, short in length outside off, Will goes for the pull but is still early into his shot. Shakes his head in frustration and jogs across to the other end for a single as the ball goes to deep mid-wicket. But why did he run?
Karan KC to Will Jacks, SIX MORE! This is even better than the previous one! Low full toss, outside off, Jacks goes low and just scoops it over backward point for consecutive sixes! Jacks moves to 32 (16).
Karan KC to Will Jacks, SIX! POUNDED! 170 is touched. 4 balls left. Short, outside off, pace off, Will Jacks waits for the ball and slaps it over extra cover for half a dozen!
Karan KC to Will Jacks, Around off, heaved through mid-wicket. The batters take a couple and the throw comes in at the striker's end. It is a direct hit and the batters think about the overthrow but don't take it.
Final over coming up. Karan KC to bowl. 2-0-14-0 so far.
- Will Jacks 18 (13)
- Jofra Archer 1 (2)
Nandan Yadav to Will Jacks, Short, outside off, slapped through the covers for a single. A wicket and 12 runs from the over, 24 in the last 2!
Nandan Yadav to Will Jacks, FOUR! Jacks finds the fence. Not where he intended though. Short and wide outside off, Will throws his bat at it and the ball runs off the toe end, to the right of the keeper, into the deep third fence!
Nandan Yadav to Jofra Archer, Very full, on middle, Archer drills it to long on for a single.
Nandan Yadav to Jofra Archer, RUN OUT CHANCE! Bowler decides not to throw. On a length, outside off, Jofra Archer looks to punch it through the off side but gets a bottom edge. The non-striker sets off for the single and is halfway down but the bowler quickly gets to the ball. Turns around and thinks about the shy but holds himself.
10 balls left. And my, Jofra Archer has come out at number 8, replacing his skipper, Harry Brook!
Nandan Yadav to Harry Brook, OUT! CAUGHT! Nepal might have been erratic with their bowling but in terms of communication, their skills have been excellent on the field. Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Brook tries to heave it through the off side, ummm... almost like his dismissal to Mitchell Starc in the 2023 Ashes but on this occasion, his head was more still. Gets a leading edge which goes towards cover. Sweeper comes running in, with the sun into his eyes while cover runs back. They are on the path of collision but Sher Malla from sweeper calls for it and the debutant takes the catch pretty nicely, with the setting sun into his eyes. End of a fine knock of 53 (32) from Harry Brook and from 128/3, England are now 157/6!
Nandan Yadav to Harry Brook, SIX! 50 UP IN 31 BALLS! What a way to announce yourself as a World Cup captain. A short ball, outside off, Harry Brook picks the length in a trice, stays back and slaps the short-arm jab over mid-wicket!
Nandan Yadav returns. 2-0-13-1 so far.
- Will Jacks 13 (11)
- Harry Brook 47 (30)
Kushal Bhurtel to Will Jacks, Short and outside off, Jacks punches it through the covers for another couple. 150 UP FOR ENGLAND! 2 overs left. Is 180 on?
Kushal Bhurtel to Will Jacks, Outside off, punched through the covers. Good fielding by long off to dive and cut it off. Saves two.
Kushal Bhurtel to Will Jacks, SIX! A BOUNDARY AFTER 20 BALLS! Not cleanly hit though. Tossed up, around off, Will Jacks comes down the track and looks to go downtown. He does connect well but seems to have got more height than distance. Rohit Paudel settles himself for the catch at long on but the ball sails over!
Kushal Bhurtel to Harry Brook, The googly, around off, spinning in, 86.4 kph, Harry Brook opens the face of his bat and guides it through point for a run.
Kushal Bhurtel to Will Jacks, Long hop, outside off, Jacks rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Kushal Bhurtel to Will Jacks, Kushal Bhurtel is back on. Starts off with a leggie, short in length outside off, Will Jacks looks to cut but gets a bottom edge back to the bowler.
- Harry Brook 46 (29)
- Will Jacks 2 (6)
Sandeep Lamichhane to Harry Brook, Full and around off, Harry leans and pushes it towards cover. A sensational 17th over from Lamichhane, going for just a solitary run! 4-0-25-1 for Lamichhane in this match.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Harry Brook, Landed outside off, 85.9 kph, spinning away, Harry Brook pushes it towards point. Maybe trying to see off Nepal's best.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Will Jacks, Misfield stops the run of dots. Full, outside off, WJ brings out the reverse but hits it straight to short third. However, the fielder fumbles and the batters take the single.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Will Jacks, Outside of, short of full, Will goes back and guides it towards short third. Brook wants the single but is sent back.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Will Jacks, Beaten again! Quicker through the air, outside off, Jacks lunges to push but the ball pitches and then spins a mile past the outside edge! Get a slip in, mate!
Can Nepal build on this mini opening?
Sandeep Lamichhane to Will Jacks, Sandeep Lamichhane will bowl out now. Tossed up, outside off, Will Jacks lunges to drive but is beaten. Bit of away spin there.
- Harry Brook 46 (27)
- Will Jacks 1 (2)
Dipendra Singh Airee to Harry Brook, Full and outside off, little bit of away drift, Harry Brook drives it towards cover. A wicket and 4 runs from the over. Couple of excellent overs for Nepal.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Will Jacks, Around off, worked through mid on for a single.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Will Jacks, Full and around off, Will Jacks lunges to defend.
Half the side down, but the batters keep coming. Will Jacks comes in at number 7, replacing Sam Curran.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Sam Curran, OUT! BOWLED! Curran has dragged one on. He never looked settled at the crease and this might actually be a blessing in disguise for the Brits. Landed outside off, Sam Curran goes back to punch it through the off side but yet another one stops on the pitch a touch. The shot is played early. As a result, the bottom edge is induced and the stumps are shattered. Curran comes and goes for 2 (8) and from 128/3, England are now 137/5! 27 balls left in the innings.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Harry Brook, Very full, outside off, Brook goes for the big swing but overhits it. The bat turns in his hands and the ball goes off the inner half of the bat towards long on. A single taken.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Harry Brook, WIDE. Well down the leg side, Harry Brook misses his flick.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Sam Curran, Full, on middle, 84.6 kph, Sam Curran clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
- Sam Curran 1 (6)
- Harry Brook 45 (25)
Kushal Bhurtel to Sam Curran, Another wrong 'un to finish, around leg and middle, SC works it through mid on for a single. What a lovely over from Bhurtel.
Kushal Bhurtel to Sam Curran, Hattrick of dots! Short and outside off again, another googly, Sam finds point with his cut now!
Kushal Bhurtel to Sam Curran, Another one holds on the deck. Hmmm... Adil Rashid is smiling already. Outside off, another wrong 'un, Curran looks to cut but is through his shot early. Gets a bottom edge back to the bowler.
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
