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Mumbai, India – England, the two-time T20 World Cup champions, opened their 2026 campaign with a narrow four-run victory over a spirited Nepal side at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday, February 8. The thrilling Group C encounter saw England post a challenging total before Nepal mounted a valiant chase that fell just short in the final over.
Match Summary[sacricketmag+2]
England batted first after Nepal won the toss and elected to bowl. The English innings saw early setbacks with opener Phil Salt departing in the second over and Jos Buttler also falling cheaply. However, Jacob Bethell and captain Harry Brook stabilized the innings, building an important 71-run partnership. Bethell scored 55 runs off 35 balls, marking his third T20I half-century, while Brook contributed 53 runs off 32 balls for his sixth T20I fifty. Alate surge by Will Jacks, who smashed 39 runs off just 18 deliveries, propelled England to a competitive total of 184 runs for seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Nepal's bowlers showed discipline, with Dipendra Singh Airee being the pick of the attack, taking two wickets for 23 runs. Sher Malla also made an immediate impact, claiming a wicket with his very first ball in T20I cricket.[olympics+7]
Nepal's Valiant Chase[olympics]
Chasing 185 for victory, Nepal demonstrated remarkable resilience and pushed England to the brink. Despite losing Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel early in the powerplay, captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee forged a magnificent 82-run partnership off 54 balls, shifting the momentum. Airee was particularly instrumental, scoring 44 runs and becoming the first Nepalese batter to surpass 2000 T20I runs. The match intensified in the latter stages as Nepal's lower order, spearheaded by Lokesh Bam's blistering 39 not out off 20 balls, kept the dream of a historic upset alive.[sacricketmag+6]
Key Performances and Decisive Moments[sacricketmag+1]
England's Liam Dawson was effective with the ball, taking two wickets and bowling an economical spell. However, key pacers Jofra Archer and Luke Wood proved expensive, as did main spinner Adil Rashid, who went wicketless. The game ultimately came down to the final over, with Nepal needing 10 runs to win. England's Sam Curran held his nerve under immense pressure, successfully defending the target and securing a narrow four-run victory for his team. Will Jacks was named Player of the Match for his crucial late innings contribution.[sacricketmag+5]
Pre-match Expectations and Tournament Context[sacricketmag]
Before the match, England was widely considered the overwhelming favorite. They entered the tournament ranked third in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings with a rating of 259, showcasing strong recent form including a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Sri Lanka. Nepal, ranked 16th globally with a rating of 176, had qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026 by topping the Asia and EAP Qualifier 2025, winning all their warm-up games. This was Nepal's third appearance at a T20 World Cup, and their first-ever T20I encounter against England. Cricket analysts and even artificial intelligence predictions largely tipped England for a comfortable win, acknowledging Nepal as a potential wildcard. The Wankhede Stadium pitch, known to favor batters, lived up to its reputation, contributing to the high-scoring affair.[cricketworld+13]
The T20 World Cup 2026 is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka across eight venues. This opening match for England in Group C sets the tone for their campaign, while Nepal's courageous performance has undoubtedly earned them respect and demonstrated their growing prowess on the international stage.[crictracker+3]
