England survived a late scare as Nepal came within four runs of a historic upset in a tense Group C clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
India | By Farzana Momand
England opened their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a narrow four-run victory over Nepal in a closely contested and high-intensity group-stage encounter.
Batting first, England posted 184 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Jacob Bethell led the innings with a composed 55-run knock, anchoring the middle order and providing stability after early pressure.
In response, Nepal delivered a spirited and disciplined chase, remaining in contention until the final overs. Chasing 185, Nepal finished on 180 for six, falling just four runs short of what would have been one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.
Dipendra Singh Airee top-scored for Nepal with 44 runs, playing a crucial role in keeping the chase alive and applying sustained pressure on England’s bowling attack.
Despite the narrow margin, England secured the full points from the match, while Nepal’s performance drew attention for its competitiveness against one of the tournament favorites.
The result places England on an early winning footing in Group C, while Nepal, despite the loss, signaled their intent to challenge higher-ranked teams as the tournament progresses.