Mumbai witnessed a near fairytale on Sunday night as Nepal came within touching distance of one of the biggest upsets of the T20 World Cup 2026. Before the tournament’s first upset could be realised, Sam Curran’s nerve-steel finish helped England escape with a narrow four-run victory.
The interest for the game can be judged by the heavy Google search volume for it even hours after the game’s conclusion. The game has 1 million+ search volume with 1,000% increase for “england vs nepal” as of 9.30 pm.
What happened on the field?
Chasing 185, Nepal fought with fearless intent and needed just 10 runs in the final over with the dangerous Lokesh Bam at the crease. But Curran turned pressure into poetry. Firing pinpoint yorkers and mixing his pace smartly, the England all-rounder denied Bam any room to swing freely, conceding just five runs to restrict Nepal to 180/6.
Bam remained unbeaten on a stunning 39 off just 20 balls, keeping England anxious until the final delivery in what turned into one of the tournament’s most gripping finishes.
Nepal’s chase never relied on a single hero but thrived on collective aggression. Dipendra Singh Airee led the charge with a fluent 44 off 29 balls and earlier made his presence felt with the ball, claiming 2/23 in three tight overs. Captain Rohit Paudel added a composed 39 from 34 deliveries, anchoring the middle phase and keeping the equation within reach.
Tough game for England
England, despite the win, were tested hard. Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer endured expensive outings, both conceding 42 runs, as Nepal’s batters attacked without hesitation.
Earlier, England had posted a competitive 184/7 after opting to bat. Jacob Bethell and skipper Harry Brook struck commanding half-centuries to lay the platform, while Will Jacks’ explosive unbeaten 39 off 18 balls provided the late surge that ultimately proved decisive.