T20 World Cup 2026 | Nepal Give Tough Fight; England Hold Nerves To Seal 4-Run Win

England team won the match against Nepal after holding onto the nerves in a final over win in T20 World Cup 2026.

England held their nerve in a thrilling finish to edge past Nepal by four runs in the 5th Group C match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on February 8. Batting first, England posted a competitive total of 184 for 7 in their 20 overs on a high-scoring surface. The innings began shakily as Phil Salt departed for just 1 in the second ball of the match, caught off Sher Malla.

Jos Buttler counter-attacked with a brisk 26 off 17 balls before falling to Nandan Yadav. England then found stability through Jacob Bethell and skipper Harry Brook. Bethell played a fluent knock of 55 off 35 deliveries, striking four fours and four sixes, while Brook anchored the innings with a commanding 53 off 32 balls.

Nepal fought back in the middle overs through disciplined bowling, with Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav picking up two wickets each. However, Will Jacks provided the late surge England needed.

Coming in during the death overs, Jacks smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls, including four sixes, to propel England past the 180 mark. England finished on 184/7, setting Nepal a target of 185.

Nepal Try With A Spirited Chase

In reply, Nepal produced a spirited chase that kept the contest alive until the final over. Kushal Bhurtel got them off to a fast start with 29 off 17 balls before being dismissed by Will Jacks.

After Aasif Sheikh fell early, captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee rebuilt the innings with a crucial partnership. Airee was particularly aggressive, scoring 44 off 29 balls, while Paudel contributed a steady 39 from 34 deliveries.

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Nepal remained well in the hunt as Lokesh Bam launched a late assault, scoring an unbeaten 39 off 20 balls at a strike rate of 195. Despite losing wickets at key moments, Nepal needed 10 runs off the final over. Sam Curran and the England bowlers held their composure, conceding only five runs, as Nepal finished on 180/6.

England’s bowlers shared the workload, with Liam Dawson standing out for his control, returning figures of 2 for 21. Will Jacks also made an impact with the ball, taking 1 for 17, adding to his valuable contribution with the bat. Jacks was deservedly named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.

Despite the loss, Nepal earned widespread praise for pushing one of the tournament favourites to the limit, while England walked away with a hard-fought victory and crucial points in Group C.