ISLAMABAD: England began their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a narrow four-run victory over Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
In pursuit of a 185-run target, Nepal made an encouraging start through openers Kushal Bhurtel and wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh, who played positively to put early pressure on the England bowlers.
Their 37-run opening stand ended when Sheikh was dismissed for seven from nine balls by Liam Dawson. Bhurtel followed soon after, departing for 29 off 17 deliveries, which included four fours and a six, leaving Nepal at 42/2 in 5.2 overs.
Captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee then rebuilt the innings, adding a vital 50-run partnership to carry Nepal beyond the 100-run mark in the 12th over. Airee looked on course for his 11th T20I half-century before Sam Curran broke the 82-run stand, dismissing him for 44 off 29 balls, featuring six boundaries and a six.
Paudel was next to fall, bowled by Dawson for 39 from 34 balls, which included two fours and two sixes, as Nepal slipped to 126/4 in 15.3 overs.
Reignited hopes
Nepal’s chase began to falter when Aarif Sheikh was caught by Jofra Archer for 10 off eight balls. Lokesh Bam briefly reignited hopes with successive sixes off Archer, reducing the equation to 24 runs from the final two overs.
Mark Wood conceded 14 runs in the 19th over but removed Gulsan Jha for one, leaving Nepal needing 10 off the final over. Curran held his nerve, conceding only five runs as Nepal finished just short. Gulsan Jha top-scored with a brisk 39 off 20 balls, including four fours and two sixes.
Earlier, England recovered from a shaky start to post 184/7. Phil Salt was dismissed for one, but Jacob Bethell and Jos Buttler steadied the innings. After Buttler fell for 26, Bethell and Harry Brook added 71 runs. Bethell scored 55 off 35 balls, while Brook struck 53 off 32 deliveries. Will Jacks provided late impetus with an unbeaten 39 off 18 balls.
