Chasing a target of 185, Nepal pushed the two-time world champions to the absolute limit. It required a flawless final over from Sam Curran, who defended 10 runs against the rampant Lokesh Bam, for England to avoid what would have been the most staggering upset in the history of the T20 World Cup.
Ultimately, the difference between a historic heist and a narrow defeat lay in the final over of England’s innings.
Will Jacks (39* off 18), named Player of the Match, walked out with England stuttering. He dismantled Karan KC in the 20th over, launching three towering sixes to push the total to 184.
Earlier, Jacob Bethell (55) and Harry Brook (53) rescued England from a precarious 57/3, after debutant Sher Malla took a wicket with his first-ever ball in international cricket (dismissing Phil Salt).
Nepal’s pursuit was not built on luck, but on a brutal, calculated dismantling of England’s premier spinners.
Airee-Paudel engine: Dipendra Singh Airee (44) and captain Rohit Paudel (39) combined for an 82-run stand that stunned the Wankhede.
Rashid takedown: In a statistical anomaly, Adil Rashid went wicketless for the first time in 25 T20Is, conceding 42 runs in 3 overs. Nepal targeted him with a barrage of sweeps and reverse-sweeps, including 19 runs in the 14th over.
The Bam fireworks: When the veterans fell, Lokesh Bam (39* off 20) took over. He plundered 22 runs off a shell-shocked Jofra Archer in the 18th over, leaving Nepal needing just 10 off the final six balls.
With 10 required and the Nepalese fans in chaos," Sam Curran turned to a relentless yorker plan.
Ball 1-5: Curran mixed his pace and nailed his lengths, conceding only singles.
final ball: Bam needed a six to win. He could only manage a toe-ended drive to deep extra cover.
England won by 4 runs. Bam dropped to his haunches in heartbreak, a scene reminiscent of Nepal's one-run loss to South Africa in 2024.
| Category | England | Nepal |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 184/7 (20) | 180/7 (20) |
| Top Batter | Jacob Bethell (55) | Dipendra Singh Airee (44) |
| Top Bowler | Liam Dawson (2/21) | Sandeep Lamichhane (1/25) |
| Game-Changer | Will Jacks (22 in final over) | Lokesh Bam (39* off 20) |
| Crowd Presence | ~17,000 (Mostly Nepal) | — |