Nepal produced one of their most spirited performances in recent memory but fell agonizingly short as they lost to England by just four runs in the group stage of the T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, February 8.
ENG vs NEP, T20 World Cup 2026: Highlighting | Scorecard
The result extended Nepal’s wait for a World Cup victory to 12 years, with their last triumph coming back in 2014 against Hong Kong and Afghanistan.
Wankhede turns blue and red
The the stadium was like a sea of Nepali colors fans, they donned the blue and red jerseys, filled the stands and easily outnumbered the England supporters. They roared at every dot and celebrated every wicket, creating an electrifying atmosphere that reflected the Himalayan nation’s passion for cricket.
With Nepal needing 10 runs off in the final with Lokesh Bam at the crease, the ultimate underdog story seemed within reach. But heartbreak followed as England held their nerve to pull victory from the clutches of defeat.
Captain Harry Brook faced a stern test of both his leadership and batting skills. He responded emphatically with a vital half-century that steadied England after the early wobbles. Brook’s knock of 50 from 32 balls, containing four sixes and three fours, formed the backbone of England’s recovery.
He put on a crucial 71-run partnership with Jacob Bethell for the fourth wicket to get his side out of trouble against a determined Nepal bowling attack.
Nepali strike of early morning
Sher Malla set the tone for Nepal’s aggressive bowling display when he trapped Phil Salt for just one run on the first ball of his second over. The pressure continued when Nandan Yadav dismissed England’s Jose Buttler for 26 just as he began to settle in alongside Bethell. Yadav bowled one outside off stump for Buttler to catch behind in the fifth over for Nepal’s second wicket.
Spinner Sandeep Lamichhane then struck in the seventh over, trapping Tom Banton in front of leg as he tried to reverse. At this point, England were in real trouble. However, Bethell, who blasted two fours and a six off his first four balls, combined with Brook to rebuild the innings on the same two-pace pitch where India had stumbled to 77 for six last night.
Although England did not face quite the same batting as India, none of their batting could really dominate until Will Jacks arrived. He smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls, hammering four sixes and a four to help England plunder 45 runs in the last three overs. This late surge proved decisive, pushing the target just beyond Nepal’s reach.
Nepal is Valiant Chase Falls Short
Kushal Bhurtel gave Nepal a flying start in the power play with some aggressive strokes. Even after his dismissal, Rahul Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee put up a brilliant partnership to keep the chase alive. Nepali fielders stuck to their catches throughout as Airee (2/23) and Yadav (2/25) claimed two wickets each. Malla and Lamichhane also made major breakthroughs.
Despite pushing England to the brink and taking the match deep into the final, Nepal’s valiant effort ended in heartbreak. Their 12-year wait for a T20 World Cup victory continues and the crushing nature of this defeat will weigh heavily if they cannot turn things around in their remaining group matches.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 8, 2026
