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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.
Nandan Yadav to Harry Brook, Shorter in length again, outside off, Brook backs away a bit and taps it down in front of point for another single.
Nandan Yadav to Jacob Bethell, Banged in short and well outside off, Bethell stands tall and slaps it away through the point region. There is protetction in the deep, just the single.
Nandan Yadav returns. 1-0-4-1 so far.
Nandan Yadav to Harry Brook, Short of a good length, on middle and leg, Brook tucks it down to deep backward square leg for one.
- Jacob Bethell 28 (15)
- Harry Brook 6 (3)
Sandeep Lamichhane to Jacob Bethell, Outside off, pushed towards backward point. A wicket and 7 runs to kickstart Sandeep Lamichhane's World Cup.
The innings got off to a bright start with Jos Buttler finding the boundary in the very first over, showcasing his intent to take charge early. Phil Salt, however, failed to make an impact and fell cheaply for just 1, leaving England with an early wicket.
Jacob Bethell then took the attack to the bowlers, clearing the boundary with a towering six and following it up with a couple of crisp fours, injecting momentum into England’s innings. Buttler continued to find gaps with ease, looking in control as he accumulated runs and kept the scoreboard ticking.
Nepal’s Nandan Yadav struck in his first over, dismissing Buttler for 26, a key breakthrough that momentarily stalled England’s progress. The hosts responded well, however, with Sher Malla finishing the sixth over for just 13 runs, helping England maintain a competitive run rate in the powerplay.
With four overs gone and 57 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets, England have laid the foundation for a strong total. Bethell’s attacking intent and the depth in England’s batting lineup mean Nepal will need early breakthroughs to stay in the contest.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Harry Brook, Around off, Harry tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Harry Brook, FOUR! JUST PAST! Wow. Nearly the second wicket in the over. A quicker ball, outside off, pretty full, Harry Brook went for the reverse sweep. He did not quite connect it cleanly and the ball went slightly off the edge of the bat. But it flew. There was first slip stationed. But the ball was an express train. Before the fielder could even react, the ball was past. He did dive to his left but that was more of a belated reaction. The ball was already racing towards the deep third fence.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Jacob Bethell, Another googly, shortish in length around off, Jacob Bethell works it towards wide long on for a run.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Harry Brook, Nerves straightaway. Full, around off, Harry Brook leans and works it through mid-wicket. Should have been just a single but Brook wants the suicidal second. Is sent back just in time.
And then they were three. And we have just started the post-Powerplay phase! Captain Harry Brook walks in next, at number 5, replacing Tom Banton.
Sandeep Lamichhane to Tom Banton, OUT! LBW! If the debutant can strike on the first ball, how can the senior pro be far behind? But hang on, Banton has taken the review. Tossed up, around off, Tom Banton got down to play the reverse but missed and was hit on the pads. Lamichhane went up in an appeal for LBW and the umpire agreed almost instantaneously, given how straight it was. Banton walked across to his partner Bethell and after a bit of discussion signalled for the review. Height seemed to be the only factor involved but Ball Tracking projected the googly to hit the leg stump! England lose a review and Banton for 2 (5) and from 43/1, England are now 57/3!
DRINKS BREAK. Action-packed half an hour so far. One would have expected England to hammer 10 boundaries - which consist of 8 fours and 2 biggies - but Nepal have also fairly contributed their share in that action, by getting rid of both the openers. There hasn't been any danger sign yet, as in, ball stopping or holding as yet, but there is extra bounce available, should the bowler bend his back. Sandeep Lamichhane gets the ball in his hand now.
- Tom Banton 2 (4)
- Jacob Bethell 27 (13)
Sher Malla to Tom Banton, DROPPED! Nepal nearly end the Powerplay with 3 wickets, but Sher Malla is unable to cling onto a very difficult return catch. This is floated up around off, Tom Banton advances and converts it into a full toss, flat-batting it to the left of the bowler. Malla extends that left arm in the followthrough but the ball hits his wrist and deflects behind. Single taken.
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, Flatter and on middle, tucked away through mid-wicket for a single.
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Classy shot. Pushed through a bit fuller and around off, slides on. Bethell plays the drive a bit late and right under the eyes, stroking it through cover-point for a boundary.
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, SIX! Jacob Bethell is taking Sher Malla to the cleaners in this game. On the shorter side and around off, Bethell rocks back and pummels the pull deep over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.
Sher Malla to Tom Banton, Full again, angled into the stumps, Banton looks to play the lofted shot but ends up miscuing it through the vacant mid-wicket region for a single.
Final over of the Powerplay coming up. Sher Malla finally gets his second over. 1-0-14-1 so far.
Sher Malla to Tom Banton, The in-drifter, full and angled into off and middle. Banton blocks it off.
- Jacob Bethell 16 (10)
- Tom Banton 0 (1)
Nandan Yadav to Jacob Bethell, A good delivery to close out the over. Back of a length and on leg, tucks the batter up for room. Jacob Bethell looks to pull but misses and wears it on the thigh pad.
Nandan Yadav to Jacob Bethell, Full and straight, Jacob Bethell defends.
Nandan Yadav to Tom Banton, Nandan hammers the hard length and darts it into the pads. Tom Banton misses the flick and gets it off the thigh pad. The ball rolls behind square leg and England get a leg bye.
Nepal are fighting fire with fire. 8 boundaries conceded in 27 balls, but 2 wickets snared as well. Tom Banton walks in next, at number 4, replacing Jos Buttler.
Nandan Yadav to Jos Buttler, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! And both openers are back in the pavillion inside the 5th over! Nandan bends his back, landing it outside off and getting it to move away. Buttler pushes at it but the delivery was bowled seam up and generated extra bit of movement and bounce. Only manages a thick outside edge to the keeper behind and Aasif Sheikh makes no mistake. Buttler departs after a fiery 26 (17) and England are 43/2 after 4.3 overs!
Nandan Yadav to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Too much width on offer and Jos Buttler isn't going to miss out on that. Shortish length, well outside off, Buttler waits back before tapping it down perfectly between point and backward point for a boundary.
Nandan Yadav to Jos Buttler, On a length, around off, Jos Buttler pushes it towards cover.
Karan KC has already bowled 2 overs. Should be a bowling change from this end. Change of ends for Malla, perhaps? It is a change for sure, but not Malla. Here comes Nandan Yadav.
- Jacob Bethell 16 (8)
- Jos Buttler 22 (14)
Dipendra Singh Airee to Jacob Bethell, Nagging length, not completely full and on middle. Bethell opts to go back in his crease and blocks it off.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Jos Buttler, Around middle and leg, Jos works it through mid-wicket for a run.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Another boundary from the bat of Jos Buttler. Overpitched delivery on off, Buttler hangs deep in the crease and hammers it flat over wide mid off for four more runs.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Just a small mistake in length but even that is not pardoned. Fractionally short and wide outside off, it is enough for Buttler who goes back and punches it between cover and point for a boundary.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Jacob Bethell, Flat and full, darted into the leg stump. Jacob Bethell drives it down to long off and picks up another single.
Dipendra Singh Airee to Jos Buttler, Full and straight, around middle, Jos Buttler eases this through mid on for a single.
Another one for Malla? Not right now. Dipendra Singh Airee gets the ball in his hand. Another offie.
- Jos Buttler 12 (10)
- Jacob Bethell 15 (6)
Karan KC to Jos Buttler, Slower delivery, an off-cutter on middle, Buttler wrists it wide of mid on and picks up a quick single.
Karan KC to Jos Buttler, Excellent effort in the deep. Kushal Bhurtel is the fielder. On a length, around off, Jos came down the track and heaved it through mid-wicket. The ball went off the inner half of the bat, but still got racing through. However, Bhurtel gave it a good chase to his left from the deep, got to the ball, dove and pushed it back towards mid on who was running after the ball. Two runs taken, two saved.
Karan KC to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Belted away by Buttler. Banged in short around off, not enough pace on the ball to trouble the batter. Buttler rocks back and hoicks it flat towards cow corner for a boundary. That almost went all the way.
Karan KC to Jos Buttler, On a length, around off, angling away after pitching, Buttler pushes it towards point.
Karan KC to Jacob Bethell, Hard length, slanted back into the batter, Bethell pats it down through mid on and turns the strike over.
Karan KC to Jos Buttler, On a length, around off, coming in slightly, Jos Buttler whips it behind square leg for a single.
Pressure off? Or on? Look at one wicket in 2 overs and one would say, pressure on England. But look at 14 runs coming in the first over of spin and another would say - bring on more spin! It's pace continuing from this end for now.
- Jacob Bethell 14 (5)
- Jos Buttler 4 (5)
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, Better length from Malla. Very full, drifted into the pads. Bethell gets his hands out in front and pushes it to mid on. 14 runs and a wicket off Malla's first over in T20Is.
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Again too, short. 14 runs in the last three balls. Down the leg side, Bethell swivels and pulls it past short fine leg, to his right and finds the fence.
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, SIX! That has been walloped into the stands. Shorter in length again, around off, Jacob Bethell picks the length early, rocks back and pulls it in front of mid-wicket for the first biggie of the game.
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Just a touch short and punished. Outside off, bit of width as well. Jacob Bethell punches it through the gap between cover and point and finds the fence.
Sher Malla to Jacob Bethell, Malla comes around the wicket to the left-hander. Serves it full on middle, Bethell lunges inside the line and clips it to short mid-wicket.
300 or no 300, Nepal will take Phil's early dismissal without any trace of salt. Jacob Bethell walks in next, at number 3, replacing Phil Salt.
Sher Malla to Phil Salt, OUT! CAUGHT! What a start to his T20I career! Boy o boy, if dreams do ever come true, this is one of those instances. First ball in T20I cricket, and that too, in a World Cup clash. Flighted, around off, coming in with the angle, Phil Salt looks to take the offie on and goes for the big slog across the line. But the extra bounce does him in and he only manages a top edge. The ball goes straight up in the air, but only as far as short fine leg. Sandeep Lamichhane makes no mistake over there and the entire Nepal team starts to celebrate. In fact, the bowler himself starts to leap in the air in celebration but when he lands, he loses balance and trips over! Thankfully, he has not hurt himself. Salt departs for 1 (2) and England are 5/1 after 1.1 overs!
Any chance of spin from the other end? By all means. It will be the debutant Sher Malla, to bowl his off spin.
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
