Nepal Vs England Highlights, T20 World Cup: Sam Curran Holds Nerve As ENG Win By Four Runs To Avoid Upset

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (capt), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood

Nepal made their debut at the 2014 edition of the competition, but had to wait until the West Indies and US co-hosted tournament in 2024 to make a second appearance.

Both times, the Rhinos exited at the first stage, with 12th- and 17th-placed rankings.

England have lifted the T20 World Cup twice, alongside West Indies and holders India.

Paul Collingwood captained the English to the third edition of the competition, before Jos Buttler’s side sealed their second win in 2022.

The T20 World Cup 2026 clash between Nepal and England will be broadcast live in India on the Star Sports Network, with live streaming available on the JioHotstar app and website.

Check out full live streaming info.

Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(w), Rohit Paudel(c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Gulsan Jha, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nandan Yadav, Basir Ahamad, Lalit Rajbanshi, Lokesh Bam, Sher Malla

Expect temperatures to hit 35 degrees Celsius in Mumbai today with 0% cloud cover. Also, the air quality in the city is still unhealthy so it remains to be seen how the players react to it. As per AccuWeather, people are advised caution if doing strenuous activities outside. English players are not use to extreme heat, so today will be a test of their stamina.

Expect the Wankhede track to play the same way as it did during the India vs USA match. Expect turn and bounce but also some invariable bounce for the bowlers.

Nepal qualified for their maiden T20 World Cup in 2014 after finishing 3rd in the 2013 Qualifier, and they made their reappearance after ten years in 2024. The team couldn't make it past the group stage in both the editions, however they managed to win two matches in their first appearance.

“I accept responsibility for my actions in Wellington and acknowledge others were present that evening. I regret my previous comments and my intention was to protect my teammates from being drawn into a situation that arose as a result of my own decisions. I have apologised and will continue to reflect on the matter. This has been a challenging period in my career, but one from which I am learning,” Brook had told the media in Sri Lanka.

England won the toss and opted to bat first.

Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(w), Rohit Paudel(c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sher Malla

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood

Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are out in the middle to begin proceedings. Salt will face first up, with Karan KC marking out his run to open the attack.

Sher Malla has a debut moment to remember, striking first ball as Phil Salt top-edges a leg-side swipe and holes out to Sandeep Lamichhane at short fine. But Jacob Bethell flips the script in a hurry, cracking a cut, launching a short ball for six, and pulling another to the rope. A fierce counterpunch after the early blow. Fourteen come from it, England 19/1.

Jacob Bethell keeps the pressure right on, cracking back-to-back boundaries, while Jos Buttler smartly rotates strike to keep the momentum flowing. England are beginning to hum now, 11 from the over and they move to 39/1.

Nandan Yadav delivers a huge moment for Nepal! Extra bounce from a hard length, Jos Buttler goes back to cut and only manages a thin edge through to Aasif Sheikh behind the stumps. Wild celebrations follow, a leap, a punch of the air, Nepal have their big fish. Tom Banton is the new man, while Jacob Bethell is tied down to end the over. Just five from it, England 44/2.

Powerplay done and England will feel they’ve wrestled some momentum back. Jacob Bethell provides the spark, muscling a superb six and then finding the fence again, while Tom Banton rotates strike to keep the board moving. Thirteen from the over, and despite losing both openers earlier, England close the fielding restrictions at 57/2 with the rebuild well underway.

Sandeep Lamichhane needs just one ball to make an impact. Tom Banton shapes for the premeditated reverse, misses it completely and is struck plumb in front. Up goes the finger, the review comes, but it only confirms the inevitable, three reds and Banton departs for just 2. Lamichhane is off in celebration and Nepal’s fans are loving it. England slip further.

Tidy stuff from Nepal as they slam the brakes on. Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell are forced to work hard for singles with nothing loose on offer. Just three from the over, England move to 76/3 and the pressure is building again.

Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell shift gears beautifully. The over begins with busy running, but it ends in style as Bethell finds the boundary and then launches a superb six to bring up the momentum for England. Fourteen from it, England jump to 120/3 and this partnership is now looking dangerous.

Dipendra Singh Airee breaks the stand at a vital moment. Jacob Bethell goes for the loft but gets it off the bottom of the bat, plenty of height yet not the distance, and Lokesh Bam settles under it at long-on. Bethell knows immediately and walks. Sam Curran arrives but can’t find a release shot. Eight from the over, England 128/4.

Dipendra Singh Airee is right in the game again and Nepal can sense an opening. Sam Curran looks to cut but inside-edges it back onto the stumps, a huge strike just when England wanted a push. Will Jacks arrives and is immediately kept quiet, while Harry Brook can’t pierce the infield either. Superb control, only four from the over, England 138/5.

What an eventful over from Nandan Yadav. It begins with Harry Brook coolly bringing up his fifty with a six, but the bowler responds in perfect fashion, Brook looks to go again and picks out Sher Malla in the deep. Huge wicket. Will Jacks then rides his luck with a boundary and nudges a single, while Jofra Archer chips in too. Twelve off it, England 163/6, but Nepal will be thrilled to see Brook gone.

Final over fireworks. Will Jacks goes on a boundary spree, backing away repeatedly to launch two towering sixes and then finishing the innings with another clean strike over the off side. In between, Jofra Archer gives up his wicket in a desperate bid to get Jacks back on strike, run out after a sharp throw from Aasif Sheikh to Karan KC. Twenty-one from the over, and England power their way to 184/7.

Innings Break.

Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh make their way out for the chase. Bhurtel will face first up, with Mark Wood charging in with the new ball to open the attack.

Kushal Bhurtel wastes no time and gets Nepal moving, cracking three delightful boundaries in the over to put England on notice. Aasif Sheikh chips in with strike rotation at the other end. Fourteen from it, Nepal race to 16/0 with early intent.

Kushal Bhurtel is lighting up the chase! A boundary, a towering six, and another four in the over as he takes England on with fearless intent. Aasif Sheikh plays his part with strike rotation, but this is Bhurtel’s show right now. Fifteen from it, Nepal surge to 31/0.

Liam Dawson provides the breakthrough England desperately wanted. Aasif Sheikh goes for the sweep, but the extra bounce takes the top edge and Mark Wood makes no mistake at short fine. A big stand finally broken. Rohit Paudel walks in and is immediately tied down. Six from the over, Nepal 37/1.

Will Jacks makes the breakthrough England were hunting. Kushal Bhurtel, so fluent against the quicks, pushes a simple return catch straight back to the bowler and the momentum shifts. Dipendra Singh Airee gets moving with busy singles and a quick brace, while Rohit Paudel nudges one away as Nepal steady themselves. Seven from the over, 47/2, but that’s a big wicket at the drinks break.

Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee are keeping the chase nicely balanced. A couple of well-placed boundaries in the over release the pressure, with Paudel finding the gap and Airee matching him with smart placement. Ten from it, Nepal move to 85/2 and the partnership continues to grow.

Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee continue to chip away calmly. A boundary early in the over eases the nerves and the pair keep the board moving with smart singles, refusing to let the pressure build. Ten from it, Nepal reach 101/2 and the equation is down to 84 needed from 48 — very much game on.

Dipendra Singh Airee has blown this chase wide open. He clears the ropes twice in the over and splits the field with a boundary in between, turning pressure into panic in a matter of deliveries. Rohit Paudel keeps rotating strike and feeding his partner. Nineteen from it, Nepal surge to 123/2 and England suddenly have plenty to worry about.

Huge moment in the chase. Sam Curran goes to the change of pace and it works perfectly as Dipendra Singh Airee can’t keep the loft down, picking out Tom Banton in the deep. Nepal lose the set batter just when acceleration was needed. Aarif Sheikh comes in and is immediately tested, while Rohit Paudel swings hard but finds only air. Just two from the over, Nepal 125/3, and England are right back in it.

Liam Dawson lands a crushing blow. Rohit Paudel goes for the slog but can’t get it high enough, and Phil Salt charges in from the deep to complete a superb low catch. Nepal lose their captain at a critical time. Lokesh Bam arrives and can only manage singles alongside Aarif Sheikh. Just four from the over, Nepal 129/4, and England tighten their grip.

Chaos and carnage in equal measure! Lokesh Bam swings the momentum with two massive sixes and then another blow into the stands, turning what looked lost into a genuine contest. A wicket in between can’t slow him down, while Gulsan Jha gets on strike right at the end. Twenty-two from the over, Nepal rocket to 161/5 and now need just 24 from the final two overs. Game very much alive.

Momentum has swung dramatically towards Nepal. With Lokesh Bam launching that late assault, the numbers now heavily favour the chasing side, win probability climbing to 74 percent, leaving England at just 26.

Massive support from Nepal by Mumbai crowd.

Dot Ball. Great yorker at pace by Sam Curran. Lokesh slogs and misses. Shakes his head that he didn't make contact.

Full Toss but Lokes mistimed it and the ball went to long-off, just for a single. 9 need off 4 now.

A full delivery on the leg stump by Sam Curran, Karan KC mistimes the hit to long-on for a single.

Another yorker by Curran and Lokesh manages to flick it over mid-wicket. It will be two this time as the fielder had to cover some ground.

Wow, another great yorker. Squeezed out to long-on. And they don't take a run as there was no chance for Lokesh to get back for two. Nepal fans cannot believe this. What a great bowling performance by the left-armer.

Ice in the veins from Sam Curran. He keeps nailing the blockhole under enormous pressure, denying Lokesh Bam the big hit he desperately wanted. The final ball is only squeezed out for a single, Bam drops to his haunches in disbelief, and England can finally breathe. Nepal finish on 180/6, falling just short. England close it out by four runs in a thriller.

For so many watching, this will sting in a painfully familiar way. It brings back memories of the night against South Africa at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, when Nepal came within a heartbeat of pulling off the impossible and lost by a single run. Once again, they pushed a heavyweight to the edge, once again they fought until the final ball, and once again the finish line stayed just out of reach. Cruel margins, but enormous heart from Nepal.

"I think full credit to Nepal. They were absolutely brilliant. We saw that this was tricky when we batted, but they played against us really very well and they really took us close there. They played brilliantly. It's nice to spend some time in the middle (on his batting). I've been a bit short over the last month or so and by keeping it simple, the guys in the middle have described to me what it's like out there, so just let the ball come, nice and easy to do it. I think you don't get the answer to that one. It was very tough as hell. I saw they were debating (if he felt Nepal missed a trick by bowling pace in the last over). I think the helmet ran out and then ran off, so obviously in hindsight they might have done that, but all in all they were tactically very good. They've obviously pushed us right to the edge there. I think if the surfaces are going to continue to behave like that, then that's going to be crucial going forward (on the pitch). There's obviously a lot of games to be played in this World Cup and Dawson was absolutely brilliant today. And I think having that adaptability is going to hopefully leave us in good stead. (on his new hairstyle) And the new haircut has gone pretty well. One from one with a new hairdo. Hopefully that contributes to a few more wins."

"I think the boys gave it all. I am very proud of them. We had the belief when we came to this World Cup. We didn't come here just to participate. The result didn't go our way but effort wise we gave 100% in every department. Last over Sam Curran bowled really well. We will improve from there. We were calculating. We wanted to wickets in hands with 10 runs per over in the last few overs. It wasn't a plan to take on Adil Rashid and it just happened. We will not take any team lightly. We as a team need to be at our 100%. They are very passionate. The whole of Kathmandu, Nepal came here to support us. I think all of Nepal will be proud of us."

"It wasn't easy at all, thankfully got over the line. They played extremely well and not many teams take Adil Rashid like they did. I thought we were in a very good position to defend that. I wish them all the best for the rest of the comp. Beth played outstanding, the way he was rocking back and hitting the spinners into the stands was great. I just said we put 2-3 wickets and it all changes. We have so many options. I don't think Sam bowled until a lot later. Rashid got a tap there and it's not often that he doesn't bowl four overs. I am sure he will bounceback. He knew exactly what he was going to bowl."

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Tomorrow's fixtures:

Scotland vs Italy - 11 AM IST

Zimbawe vs Oman - 3:00 PM IST

South Africa vs Canada - 7:00 PM IST

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