England's T20 World Cup campaign began with a heart-stopping escape as they edged out Nepal by just four runs in a pulsating Group C opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The defending champions were pushed to the absolute limit by their Associate opponents in a match that saw thousands of passionate Nepali fans roar their team to the brink of a historic upset.
A Tense Final Over Decides the Contest
With Nepal requiring 10 runs from the final six deliveries to secure a famous victory, England's Sam Curran held his nerve under immense pressure. Bowling a disciplined over, Curran restricted the explosive Lokesh Bam, denying him the boundaries needed to complete a remarkable chase. This crucial intervention ensured England avoided a shock defeat reminiscent of their 2009 loss to the Netherlands in a tournament opener.
England's Batting Foundation
Electing to bat first in sweltering 30-degree heat, England posted a formidable 184 for seven, the highest total of the tournament so far. Their innings was built on two excellent half-centuries. Jacob Bethell provided the early impetus with a dynamic 55 from just 35 balls, taking a particular liking to Nepal's spinners. He was well supported by Harry Brook, who accelerated after a slow start to score 53 from 32 deliveries.
Will Jacks then played a vital cameo, smashing an unbeaten 39 from only 18 balls. His late assault, which included three sixes in the final over, propelled England to what seemed a commanding total.
Nepal's Valiant Chase
Nepal's response was fearless from the outset. Opener Kushal Bhurtel set the tone by taking 31 runs from the first three overs, clubbing boundaries off Jofra Archer and Luke Wood. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Nepal's middle order kept the chase alive. Captain Rohit Paudel (39) and Dipendra Singh Airee (44) added a crucial partnership, with Airee notably taking 19 runs from a single Adil Rashid over.
The game seemed to swing decisively when Lokesh Bam entered the fray. His unbeaten 39 off just 22 balls included back-to-back sixes in an Archer over that cost 22 runs, suddenly reducing the equation to a manageable 54 needed from 21 balls.
Bowling Heroes and Nervous Moments
For England, Liam Dawson was the standout bowler, claiming two key wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs. His control during the middle overs was instrumental. However, the usually reliable Adil Rashid had an off day, going wicketless and proving expensive for the first time in 25 T20 internationals.
Nepal's hopes soared as 14 runs came from the penultimate over, leaving them needing 10 from the final six balls. But Curran's composure under fire, combined with some excellent fielding—including a fine tumbling catch by Phil Salt to dismiss Paudel—ultimately saw England home.
This victory extends England's impressive T20 record to 11 wins from their last 12 completed matches. However, the nature of this narrow escape against the tournament minnows will give coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler much to ponder as they progress in the competition. For Nepal, this performance announced them as a serious threat and won them many admirers on the global stage.
