Two-time champions England dodged a huge shock at the T20 World Cup as they got their campaign under way with a nerve-jangling, four-run victory over a fearless Nepal in Mumbai.
Nepal required 10 runs from the final over to pull off an upset but were only able to score five off Sam Curran as they ended on 180-6 chasing 185 in the Group C encounter at Wankhede Stadium.
Earlier, Harry Brook (53 off 32 balls) and Jacob Bethell (55 off 35) sealed half-centuries with sixes, while Will Jacks (39no off 18) slammed three maximums in a 21-run final over as England posted 184-7 against the Associate nation in the teams’ first-ever meeting.
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Sam Curran conceded only five of the 10 runs Nepal required from the final over as England held on to edge the Associate nation in a T20 World Cup classic
Nepal raced to 31-0 in three overs and then went again after a couple of wickets had checked their progress, cantering to 123-2 after 14 overs as Rohit Paudel (39 off 34) and Dipendra Singh Airee (44 off 29), who combined for 82 off 54 deliveries, tucked into the leg-spin of Adil Rashid (0-42), including flogging his third over for 19.
The ask was cut to a manageable 62 runs from the final 36 balls as England got edgy, before Airee and Paudel were then caught slogging Liam Dawson (2-21) and Curran (1-27) in successive overs and the game switched back towards the favourites.
However, a 22-run Jofra Archer over, in which Lokesh Bam (39no off 20) creamed back-to-back sixes, and then a 14-run Luke Wood set made for a thrilling finale – one Curran ensured went England’s way.
As England celebrated and Nepal considered what might have been, it became clear just how vital Jacks’ late show with the bat had been.
England next play West Indies in Mumbai on Wednesday – a game you can stream live for free on the Sky Sports App – before a Valentine’s Day clash with Scotland in Kolkata and then a final group fixture against debutants Italy at the same venue on February 16.
Nepal, who proved they will be a match for anybody at this tournament, are in action versus Italy on Thursday.
England and Nepal play out Mumbai classic
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Sher Malla celebrated wildly after dismissing England opener Phil Salt with his first ball in T20 international cricket
Brook’s side, T20 World Cup winners in 2010 and 2022 and semi-finalists in the previous edition in 2024, stumbled to 57-3 one ball into the sixth over when Tom Banton (2) was pinned lbw on the reverse sweep to leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane’s first delivery.
Phil Salt (1) had earlier been caught on the sweep at the start of the second over as Nepal off-spinner Sher Malla struck with his first ball in the T20I format, with Jos Buttler (26) snicking a rising delivery from seamer Nandan Yadav (2-25) behind in the fifth.
Brook – eager to move on from a “horrendous” time in the spotlight following his scuffle with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last autumn – got a move on for England after initially batting pretty sedately, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 71 off 45 with Bethell.
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England captain Harry Brook reached fifty from 31 balls with a towering six
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Jacob Bethell went past fifty with back-to-back maximums in Mumbai
Bethell, who batted at No 3 with Brook entering at No 5, collared anything short, while Brook’s sixes were cracked from deep in his crease before both batters holed out in the deep shortly after notching their third and sixth T20 international fifties respectively.
England’s innings stalled for a bit – Curran chopping on to his stumps for a pedestrian two – only for 45 runs to be looted from the final three overs, with Jacks taking apart Karan KC in the last set with three off-side maximums around Archer’s run out.
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Salt’s excellent catch in the deep removed Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel at Wankhede Stadium
Archer and Wood were taken apart by Kushal Bhurtel (29 off 17) across the second and third overs – Archer (1-42) battered for 14 and Wood (1-31) nailed for 15 – before Dawson had Aasif Sheikh (7) pouched on the sweep and Jacks (1-17) caught and bowled Bhurtel.
Back came Nepal, though, with Paudel and Airee smoking boundaries and running brilliantly and Lokesh’s fireworks keeping dreams of a famous win alive before the nerveless Curran had the final say.
Brook hails England’s calmness under pressure
England captain Harry Brook, speaking at the presentation:
“That wasn’t easy at all but thankfully we got over the line. Nepal played extremely well. Not many teams take Adil Rashid down the way they did.
“They were outstanding against him and put us in a tricky situation on quite a few occasions. That wasn’t ideal but it was just one of those days for him. I’m sure he will bounce back.
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Brook praises Nepal and Curran, plus reflects on a tough day for Adil Rashid, while speaking with Nasser Hussain at the presentation
“I said that if we take two or three wickets this all changes. We stuck to our guns, stayed calm. Curran knew exactly what he was going to try and do and he executed outstandingly.
“With the bat, the way Bethell was rocking back and smashing the spinners into the stands was nice and Jacks slipped into his role at No 7. That has won us the game.”
England’s T20 World Cup fixtures and results (first round)
All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports
Beat Nepal by four runs (Mumbai)vs West Indies (Wednesday February 11) – Mumbai (1.30pm)vs Scotland (Saturday February 14) – Kolkata (9.30am)vs Italy (Monday February 16) – Kolkata (9.30am)
Watch the Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from February 7 to March 8. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.
