Key points
- Milestone reached in T20 World Cup opener
- Vital 44 steadies Nepal’s chase
- England recover after early batting collapse
MUMBAI: Nepal’s leading batter Dipendra Singh Airee marked a significant personal achievement during his side’s opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Airee became the first player from Nepal to cross the 2,000-run mark in T20 Internationals, reaching the milestone in his 91st appearance in the format. His T20I record now features one century and ten half-centuries, with a highest score of 110.
Top T20I run-scorers for Nepal
- Dipendra Singh Airee — 2000* runs
- Kushal Bhurtel — 1836 runs
- Rohit Paudel — 1677 runs
- Aasif Sheikh — 1646 runs
- Kushal Malla — 1003 runs
He currently tops Nepal’s T20I run charts, ahead of Kushal Bhurtel (1,836), Rohit Paudel (1,677), Aasif Sheikh (1,646) and Kushal Malla (1,003).
Nepal were 125 for 3 after 15 overs in their chase of England’s 185-run target, with Rohit Paudel and Aarif Sheikh batting. Airee had earlier contributed a vital 44 off 29 balls before being dismissed.
Late impetus
England, batting first, endured a shaky start as Phil Salt fell for 1 off 2 balls to Sher Malla early in the innings. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell steadied matters briefly, but Nandan Yadav removed Buttler for 26 off 17 balls, reducing England to 43 for 2.
Tom Banton departed cheaply for 2, bowled by Sandeep Lamichhane, before Bethell and captain Harry Brook added 71 runs. Bethell struck 55 off 35 deliveries, while Brook later brought up his sixth T20I fifty.
Airee dismissed Bethell, and Brook was eventually removed for 53 off 32 balls by Yadav. Will Jacks provided late impetus with an unbeaten 39 off 18 balls, as England closed on 185.
