180/6 (20.0)
CR : 9.00
184/7 (20.0)
CR : 9.20
England won by 4 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Will Jacks
1/1739(18)
6:39 PM IST, local time: The Nepal players do a lap of the ground to thank the crowd.
Player of the Match: Will Jacks
Will Jacks (Player of the Match): "Full credit to Nepal. Absolutely brilliant. The pitch was tricky but they played really well.
(On his batting) Nice to spend some time in the middle, I have been short of it in the last month or so. I tried to keep it simple. The guys in the middle described to me what it was like. (The plan was to) let the ball come and not overhit it.
(Should Nepal have gone with a spinner for the last over?) I saw that they were debating. The (keeper's) helmet was rushed out and went back. They were tactically very good and pushed us to the edge. In hindsight, they might have done that (bowled spin).
If the surface continue to behave like that, spin is going to be crucial. Having that adaptability is going to leave us in good stead.
(On his batting) Nice to spend some time in the middle, I have been short of it in the last month or so. I tried to keep it simple. The guys in the middle described to me what it was like. (The plan was to) let the ball come and not overhit it.
(Should Nepal have gone with a spinner for the last over?) I saw that they were debating. The (keeper's) helmet was rushed out and went back. They were tactically very good and pushed us to the edge. In hindsight, they might have done that (bowled spin).
If the surface continue to behave like that, spin is going to be crucial. Having that adaptability is going to leave us in good stead.
Lowest Margin Defeat for Nepal in T20Is (By Runs)
1 Run vs South Africa, Kingstown, 2024
2 Runs vs Netherlands, Kirtipur, 2024
3 Runs vs Kuwait, Mong Kok, 2025
4 Runs vs England, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026*
5 Runs vs Oman, Kirtipur, 2023
1 Run vs South Africa, Kingstown, 2024
2 Runs vs Netherlands, Kirtipur, 2024
3 Runs vs Kuwait, Mong Kok, 2025
4 Runs vs England, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026*
5 Runs vs Oman, Kirtipur, 2023
Narrowest Wins for Full-Member teams vs Associate sides in T20 WCs (By Runs):
1 run – South Africa vs Nepal, Kingstown, 2024
4 runs – England vs Nepal, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026, Today*
6 runs – South Africa vs Netherlands, Chattogram, 2014
8 runs – Bangladesh vs Netherlands, Dharamsala, 2016
1 run – South Africa vs Nepal, Kingstown, 2024
4 runs – England vs Nepal, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026, Today*
6 runs – South Africa vs Netherlands, Chattogram, 2014
8 runs – Bangladesh vs Netherlands, Dharamsala, 2016
Highest Team Totals by Associate Nations vs Full-Member teams in T20 WCs:
186/6 – Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Nagpur, 2016
180/5 – Scotland vs Australia, Gros Islet, 2024
180/6 – Nepal vs England, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026, Today*
176/5 – Scotland vs Ireland, Hobart, 2022
176/6 – USA vs South Africa, North Sound, 2024
186/6 – Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Nagpur, 2016
180/5 – Scotland vs Australia, Gros Islet, 2024
180/6 – Nepal vs England, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026, Today*
176/5 – Scotland vs Ireland, Hobart, 2022
176/6 – USA vs South Africa, North Sound, 2024
NUMBERS GAME: 180 is the highest team total by an Associate side in a Men’s T20 World Cup innings without any batter reaching 50, eclipsing Afghanistan’s 172 all out against South Africa at the same venue in 2016.
Rohit Paudel (Nepal captain): "Disappointment is there. At the same time, I am very proud of the team. Boys showed great effort against England. When we stepped into the ground today, the message was that we will give our 110% and that's what the boys did.
We did not come here just to participate. We had the belief that we can beat any side if we played our best brand of cricket. That's what we did today.Effort wise, in batting, bowling and fielding, I will give full marks.
(On conceding 45 runs in the last 3 overs) That is one area we can improve. Death bowling is not easy. Even England were having a tough time. But then Sam Curran bowled really well.
(On the discussion with Airee during the partnership) We were calculating the run rate and trying to hit the first two balls for boundary. It was not a particular plan to take on Adil Rashid, but it happened. Me and Dipendra thought we could take on him.
We will not take any team lightly. I don't think in this World Cup any team will take any associate team lightly. They are very passionate. (On the crowd) Today, it seemed like the entire Nepal came here. Great to see them. That motivates us. When we go to the ground, we carry their hopes. I hope today whole Nepal will be proud of us."
We did not come here just to participate. We had the belief that we can beat any side if we played our best brand of cricket. That's what we did today.Effort wise, in batting, bowling and fielding, I will give full marks.
(On conceding 45 runs in the last 3 overs) That is one area we can improve. Death bowling is not easy. Even England were having a tough time. But then Sam Curran bowled really well.
(On the discussion with Airee during the partnership) We were calculating the run rate and trying to hit the first two balls for boundary. It was not a particular plan to take on Adil Rashid, but it happened. Me and Dipendra thought we could take on him.
We will not take any team lightly. I don't think in this World Cup any team will take any associate team lightly. They are very passionate. (On the crowd) Today, it seemed like the entire Nepal came here. Great to see them. That motivates us. When we go to the ground, we carry their hopes. I hope today whole Nepal will be proud of us."
Harry Brook (England Captain): "(On the game) Ah... It wasn't easy at all; thankfully, we got over the line in the end. Nepal played extremely well; not many teams take Adil Rashid down the way they did. They put us in a tricky situation.
(At the halfway mark in the game) I thought we were in a very good position to defend that, didn't think it would go as close as it got in the end. I wish them all the best for the rest of the competition.
(On the batting effort) Awesome from Bethell. He played outstandingly well. The way he was rocking back and smacking the spinners into the stands was great. Jacks slipped into his role at number 7.
(On bowling plans, chat during the 2nd drinks) That last over won us the game. We have so many options out there. I just said we get 2-3 wickets, and it all changes suddenly. We stuck to our guns and stayed calm. We have so many options. I don't think Sam Curran bowled until a lot later on than usual.
(On Adil Rashid and Curran) Rashid got a bit of tap there, and it's not often that he doesn't bowl four overs. I am sure he will bounce back better. Curran knew exactly what he was going to do and executed it outstandingly."
(At the halfway mark in the game) I thought we were in a very good position to defend that, didn't think it would go as close as it got in the end. I wish them all the best for the rest of the competition.
(On the batting effort) Awesome from Bethell. He played outstandingly well. The way he was rocking back and smacking the spinners into the stands was great. Jacks slipped into his role at number 7.
(On bowling plans, chat during the 2nd drinks) That last over won us the game. We have so many options out there. I just said we get 2-3 wickets, and it all changes suddenly. We stuck to our guns and stayed calm. We have so many options. I don't think Sam Curran bowled until a lot later on than usual.
(On Adil Rashid and Curran) Rashid got a bit of tap there, and it's not often that he doesn't bowl four overs. I am sure he will bounce back better. Curran knew exactly what he was going to do and executed it outstandingly."
England jump out of a possible upset at Wankhede and start their 2026 WC campaign with a thrilling four-run win over Nepal. Switch tabs for the Group B clash between Sri Lanka and Ireland.
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Darpan Tikiya, helping buddy Ajay Pal Singh, scorer Raju Khariya and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Darpan Tikiya, helping buddy Ajay Pal Singh, scorer Raju Khariya and statistician Aman. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!