England Edge Past Nepal to Avoid T20 World Cup Shock<\/b>
\nSam Curran held his nerve in the final over as England narrowly beat Nepal by four runs in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
While needing 10 runs from the last six balls, Nepal fell agonizingly short, finishing on 180-7 chasing 184 runs put by England.
Gulsan Jha was the standout for Nepal, scoring a quick 39 off 20 balls, but his late assault proved insufficient. Earlier, Lokesh Bam had threatened England with consecutive sixes off Jofra Archer, bringing the target within reach, but Sam Curran\u2019s composed bowling ensured victory.
England\u2019s innings had a shaky start. Opener Phil Salt was dismissed for just one off two balls by Sher Malla, while Tom Banton also fell cheaply to Sandeep Lamichhane.
Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell stabilised the innings, with Bethell hitting a crucial 55 off 35 balls, including four sixes. Captain Harry Brook carried England past 150, scoring 53 off 32 deliveries before Nandan Yadav claimed his wicket. Will Jacks finished unbeaten with a rapid 39 off 18 balls.
Chasing 185, Nepal got off to a promising start. Kushal Bhurtel scored 29 off 17 balls, but early wickets slowed the run chase.
Skipper Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee rebuilt the innings with a 50-run partnership, but both were dismissed by England\u2019s bowlers. Aarif Sheikh and Lokesh Bam tried to keep Nepal in contention, but key wickets from Mark Wood and Sam Curran sealed the result.
England\u2019s narrow win sets the tone for a competitive T20 World Cup campaign, highlighting their ability to withstand pressure even against lower-ranked sides. Nepal, meanwhile, showed flashes of power hitting and disciplined batting that could trouble stronger opponents in the tournament.<\/p>\n