The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai witnessed a memorable contest on the second day of the T20 World Cup 2026, as England and Nepal produced a nail-biting finish. Though England were the favorites on paper, Nepal’s fearless fight kept the match alive until the final ball. In the end, Nepal fell short by just four runs, turning the game into a classic despite the loss.
England won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a competitive 184 for 7 in their 20 overs. Nepal’s bowlers started with discipline, keeping the scoring in check early on. Jacob Bethell then played a key knock, scoring 55 off 35 balls, while captain Harry Brook added stability with 53 from 32 deliveries. In the closing overs, Will Jacks provided the finishing touch, remaining unbeaten on 39. His aggressive hitting in the final over—especially a six off the last ball—proved decisive for England.
For Nepal, Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav impressed with the ball, picking up two wickets each. Sandeep Lamichhane and Sher Malla chipped in with one wicket apiece, ensuring England never fully ran away with the game.
Chasing 185, Nepal got off to a confident start. Openers Kushal Bhurtel (29) and Dipendra Singh Airee (44) put England under pressure with positive intent. Captain Rohit Paudel followed up with a composed 39, keeping Nepal firmly in the hunt. Even as wickets fell at regular intervals, Nepal refused to back down.
In the final over, Nepal needed 10 runs to pull off a famous upset. Lokesh Bam stayed unbeaten with a spirited 39 off 20 balls, but the target proved just out of reach. Nepal finished on 180 for 6, losing by four runs after a heroic effort that earned widespread praise.
Despite the defeat, Nepal’s performance stood out for its courage and composure. England, meanwhile, were pushed to their limits, with the tension visible on players’ faces right until the last delivery.
