England narrowly avoided a major upset at the T20 World Cup after holding their nerve to defeat Nepal by four runs in a dramatic last-ball finish in Mumbai on Sunday.
Chasing a challenging target of 185, Nepal required six runs off the final delivery bowled by Sam Curran. Lokesh Bam, unbeaten on 39, could manage only a single to deep cover, sealing a tense victory for the defending champions.
The result brought a heartbreaking end to a spirited chase by Nepal, who impressed by attacking England’s frontline bowlers, including Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid.
Earlier, Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook struck rapid half-centuries to anchor England’s innings, while a late onslaught from Will Jacks pushed the total to 184 for seven in the Group C encounter. Jacks remained unbeaten on 39 from just 18 balls, smashing three sixes in the final over off Karan KC.
Nepal finished on 180 for six, falling just short despite strong support from a near-capacity crowd at the Wankhede Stadium. The chase began brightly, with Kushal Bhurtel blasting 29 off 17 deliveries before being caught and bowled by Jacks.
Captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee came together at 42-2 and brought up Nepal’s 100 in the 12th over.
Pace man Archer, who conceded 14 off his first over, was brought back and put the brakes on, conceding just six runs from his next two overs.
But the Nepali batsmen took to Rashid at the other end, launching the leg-spinner for 19 off his third over with Airee hitting two sixes and a four. He finished with 0-42 from three overs.
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The blitz left Nepal needing 62 off the last six overs with eight wickets in hand.
Left-arm seamer Curran returned and immediately got the vital breakthrough, ending the 82-run partnership for the third wicket when Airee holed out to Tom Banton for 44.
The wicket slowed Nepal’s charge and Paudel on 39 then swept Liam Dawson to Phil Salt at deep midwicket to leave them 126-4 in the 16th over.
Archer came back for a final over and proved expensive again, being thrashed for three sixes and 22 runs by Lokesh to leave Nepal 24 off 12 balls for an unlikely win.
Dawson was the pick of England’s bowlers with 2-21 while Archer had 1-42 from his four as England just held on.
