England and Nepal faced off in a thrilling match during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the Group C game going down to the last moments. After choosing to bat first, England scored 184 for 7 in their 20 overs, setting a challenging target for Nepal.
England’s innings featured strong performances from key batters. Jacob Bethell contributed a quick 55 runs off 35 balls, helping the team maintain a steady run rate amid falling wickets. Captain Harry Brook also played well, scoring 53 runs off 32 balls, ensuring England stayed on track.
Will Jacks finished strongly with an unbeaten 39 runs off 18 balls, hitting several boundaries in the closing overs. This late surge pushed England’s total beyond 180, making the target more daunting for Nepal. Jos Buttler added valuable runs with a cameo of 26 off 17 balls.
For Nepal, Sher Malla took a wicket on his first ball in T20I Cricket, dismissing Phil Salt. Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav each took two wickets in three overs, while Sandeep Lamicchane bowled effectively in his four overs.
Nepal started their chase confidently, matching England’s runs despite losing key wickets. The batters remained aggressive, keeping the required run rate manageable throughout the innings, making the match intense.
The game hinged on the final overs, where Sam Curran held his composure to secure a win for England. While England claimed victory, Nepal was praised for challenging one of the tournament favorites in a fantastic match.
Nepal’s opening batsman Kushal Bhurtel scored 29 and captain Rohit Paudel added 39, setting a positive tone for the chase. Lokesh Bam was the highlight, scoring 39 runs off just 20 balls, while Dipendra Singh Airee contributed an important 44 runs.
Ultimately, Nepal’s efforts fell short as Liam Dawson and Curran’s effective bowling played a key role. Dawson took two wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs.
Top Batting Performance of the Match – Jacob Bethell
Jacob Bethell had a standout performance in his T20 World Cup debut. Coming in at a tough moment after England lost Phil Salt early, he scored 55 runs off 35 balls with a strike rate of 157.14. His partnership of 71 runs with captain Harry Brook was vital in reaching a competitive total.
