In a nail-biting group-stage encounter at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, England edged past Nepal in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a narrow margin of four runs, as they defended a total of 184-7.
England began confidently after winning the toss. Jos Buttler laid the foundation for their innings with an aggressive start of 26 off 17 balls, while Jacob Bethell continued steadily in middle overs with a patient knock of 55 off 35 deliveries. Captain Harry Brook added fire with a brisk 53 from 32 balls, and Will Jacks finished it off quickly with a quickfire unbeaten 39 off 18 balls. Despite a few early wickets falling, Phil Salt and Jofra Archer managed just one run each; their efforts were offset by five extras conceded by Nepal. England’s total stood at 184-7 in 20 overs.
The chase was an epic struggle for Nepal, who displayed remarkable resilience until the final ball. Anchored by Dipendra Singh Airee’s 44 off 29 balls with six boundaries and a six, the innings was led by Rohit Paudel with a steady 39 off 34 balls. Opener Kushal Bhurtel provided early momentum with 29 off 17 balls. Lokesh Bam’s late assault, unbeaten on 39 off 20 balls, brought Nepal close to an historic upset. Aarif Sheikh and Aasif Sheikh also contributed valuable runs in the middle order.
Despite maintaining a strong run rate, Nepal fell agonizingly short of victory. They needed nine runs off their final over but managed only five, allowing England’s bowlers to hold their nerve and secure a tight four-run triumph. The narrow win ensured England remained firmly in contention in the tournament’s early stages, while Nepal could take pride in pushing a former champion to the brink.
The INDIA vs USA clash saw India clinch a stunning victory by defeating their opponents by 132 runs, with their skipper leading from the front with an impressive 84 off 49 balls. The night was rightfully theirs.
In the second match of the tournament, West Indies overhauled Scotland comfortably, posting 182 for five in just 18.5 overs to register a victory after they had posted 147 all out for seven wickets.
As the ICC Mega Cricket Event began with Pakistan winning their opener by three wickets against NL on Friday, marking the start of an exciting tournament that promised many more thrilling matches and competitive moments.