Unlucky Nepal denied major upset as England win Mumbai thriller

Mumbai: Nepal came within touching distance of one of the biggest shocks in T20 World Cup history, pushing former champions England to the edge before...

Mumbai: Nepal came within touching distance of one of the biggest shocks in T20 World Cup history, pushing former champions England to the edge before falling just four runs short in a last-ball thriller in Mumbai on Sunday.

Nepal's captain Rohit Paudel (C) reacts after his team's defeat at the end of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup group stage match between England and Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 8, 2026. (Photo by Indranil MUKHERJEE / AFP)

Chasing an imposing 185 to win, Nepal's Lokesh Bam, who had bludgeoned a brave 39 off 19 balls to give his side a sniff of a famous win, needed a six off the final delivery bowled by Sam Curran but could only manage a single.

It was a breathless and agonising end to a valiant run chase by the cricketing minnows, who put England's premier bowlers Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid to the sword.

Jacob Bethell (55) and Harry Brook (53) scored quick fifties for England but it was a late cameo by Will Jacks that took them to 184-7 in the Group C match, a total that proved just enough.