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England vs Nepal Match 5 Full Commentary
Result · Feb 08 2026, Sun - 03:00 PM (IST)
NEP 180/6 (20.0)
ENG 184/7 (20.0)
England beat Nepal by 4 runs
CRR:9.00
ஆட்டத்தின் சிறந்த வீரர்
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We are back for the chase! The English players have stepped on the green turf and now they are scattering to take their respective field positions. Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel will open the inning for Nepal. Luke Wood gets the new ball in hand and is raring to go with a slip in place. Off we go...
... The Run Chase ...
Steep task ahead - Now then, 185 for a regular Wankhede wicket is not that big to chase down but we have already seen that this is not a typical Wankhede wicket. There is bounce and some assistance on offer for the spinners. England have the runs to defend and the spinners to wreak havoc. Can they start the tournament with a solid win? Or will Rohit Paudel and co push them to the brink? Let's find out as the run chase is up next.
Nepal's inexperience at the death - Nepal have plenty of bowling options and although the lengths weren't the best for a large part of the innings, they managed to get regular breakthroughs. Sher Malla picked up a wicket off his very first delivery in T20Is and set the ball rolling. His good work was followed up by the senior pro, Sandeep Lamichhane and for a large part of the final 10 overs, Nepal seemed to be in control. The last 3 overs will certainly hurt, but how much? Only time will tell.
England's erratic batting - England are one of those teams that go hell for leather no matter what team they are playing against. However, they lost a couple of wickets inside the Powerplay and barring a 71-run stand between Jacob Bethell and captain Harry Brook, there weren't enough stands in order to lay a stable platform. However, twin fifties from Bethell and Brook, coupled with a flourish in the last over from Will Jacks has taken England to a very solid total.
A game of momentum - As many as 45 runs come in the last 3 overs of the innings and Nepal have seemingly thrown away what was heading towards a very decent bowling performance against a champion side. England seemed to be blowing hot and cold all throughout the first 20 overs but Will Jacks has handed the side a momentum boost, which could be so crucial.
SIX! And this is why Jacks needed to play the entire over! Full and wide outside off, Will Jacks leans into the shot and lofts it beautifully over cover to end the innings in style! 21 in the final over and ENGLAND END ON 184/7!
One ball left. Liam Dawson is in at number 9, replacing Jofra Archer but it will be Jacks on strike.
OUT! JOFRA ARCHER IS RUN OUT. Sacrificial lamb. Which makes the previous single even more dumbfounding. On a length, outside off, Archer swings for the ocean but misses. The keeper collects and the batters go for the bye. The keeper lobs the ball to the bowler who runs back and calmly takes the bails off with Archer nowhere in the frame. Archer departs for 1 (3) and England are 178/7 after 19.5 overs.
Surprising. The single is taken. One would have thought Jacks would play the entire over. Another slower ball, short in length outside off, Will goes for the pull but is still early into his shot. Shakes his head in frustration and jogs across to the other end for a single as the ball goes to deep mid-wicket. But why did he run?
SIX MORE! This is even better than the previous one! Low full toss, outside off, Jacks goes low and just scoops it over backward point for consecutive sixes! Jacks moves to 32 (16).
SIX! POUNDED! 170 is touched. 4 balls left. Short, outside off, pace off, Will Jacks waits for the ball and slaps it over extra cover for half a dozen!
Around off, heaved through mid-wicket. The batters take a couple and the throw comes in at the striker's end. It is a direct hit and the batters think about the overthrow but don't take it.
Final over coming up. Karan KC to bowl. 2-0-14-0 so far.
Short, outside off, slapped through the covers for a single. A wicket and 12 runs from the over, 24 in the last 2!
FOUR! Jacks finds the fence. Not where he intended though. Short and wide outside off, Will throws his bat at it and the ball runs off the toe end, to the right of the keeper, into the deep third fence!
Very full, on middle, Archer drills it to long on for a single.
RUN OUT CHANCE! Bowler decides not to throw. On a length, outside off, Jofra Archer looks to punch it through the off side but gets a bottom edge. The non-striker sets off for the single and is halfway down but the bowler quickly gets to the ball. Turns around and thinks about the shy but holds himself.
10 balls left. And my, Jofra Archer has come out at number 8, replacing his skipper, Harry Brook!
OUT! CAUGHT! Nepal might have been erratic with their bowling but in terms of communication, their skills have been excellent on the field. Slower ball, on a length, outside off, Brook tries to heave it through the off side, ummm... almost like his dismissal to Mitchell Starc in the 2023 Ashes but on this occasion, his head was more still. Gets a leading edge which goes towards cover. Sweeper comes running in, with the sun into his eyes while cover runs back. They are on the path of collision but Sher Malla from sweeper calls for it and the debutant takes the catch pretty nicely, with the setting sun into his eyes. End of a fine knock of 53 (32) from Harry Brook and from 128/3, England are now 157/6!
SIX! 50 UP IN 31 BALLS! What a way to announce yourself as a World Cup captain. A short ball, outside off, Harry Brook picks the length in a trice, stays back and slaps the short-arm jab over mid-wicket!
Nandan Yadav returns. 2-0-13-1 so far.
Short and outside off, Jacks punches it through the covers for another couple. 150 UP FOR ENGLAND! 2 overs left. Is 180 on?
Outside off, punched through the covers. Good fielding by long off to dive and cut it off. Saves two.
SIX! A BOUNDARY AFTER 20 BALLS! Not cleanly hit though. Tossed up, around off, Will Jacks comes down the track and looks to go downtown. He does connect well but seems to have got more height than distance. Rohit Paudel settles himself for the catch at long on but the ball sails over!
The googly, around off, spinning in, 86.4 kph, Harry Brook opens the face of his bat and guides it through point for a run.
Long hop, outside off, Jacks rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Kushal Bhurtel is back on. Starts off with a leggie, short in length outside off, Will Jacks looks to cut but gets a bottom edge back to the bowler.
Full and around off, Harry leans and pushes it towards cover. A sensational 17th over from Lamichhane, going for just a solitary run! 4-0-25-1 for Lamichhane in this match.
Landed outside off, 85.9 kph, spinning away, Harry Brook pushes it towards point. Maybe trying to see off Nepal's best.
Goodbye from this thriller! England secures the points after a nervy finish, while Nepal can take plenty of positives from a fighting loss. But don't go anywhere because the cricket action continues. We are shifting gears immediately for the next clash, where Sri Lanka locks horns with Ireland in what promises to be a cracking contest. The game has already started, so just switch tabs for more excitement. Cheers!
The victorious skipper of England - Harry Brook says that it wasn't an easy game at all but they got over the line. Adds that there are not many players who can take down Adil Rashid. He says that the total was great but Nepal were outstanding. He adds that Will Jacks' knock towards the end was crucial and that is the reason they got over the line. He ends by saying that Sam Curran bowled well, and he was calm under pressure.
The captain of Nepal - Rohit Paudel says there is obviously disappointment, but more than anything, he is proud of how his team performed. Adds that the fight they showed against England was outstanding. Mentions they came in with one clear goal, to give their absolute best, and the players did exactly that. Tellls they did not come to this World Cup just to take part, they came to compete, and this game showed that. Further adds that the result did not go their way, but across batting, bowling, and fielding, the effort was right up there. Admits that the last few overs are an area to improve, and England handled that phase better, but they will learn from it. During the key partnership, the idea was to stay calm, keep wickets in hand and manage the chase smartly, and that approach worked well for them. Says going ahead, everyone will respect every opponent and make sure they bring their best each time. Playing in India with so many Nepalese fans in the stands was something special, and their support pushed them to give everything out there.
Presentation Time...
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Will Jacks receives the award for his crucial 39 off 18 with the bat, and 1/17 (2) with the ball. He starts by giving credit to Nepal for an outstanding performance in this game. Adds that they found the surface a bit tough while batting, but Nepal handled the spin excellently and pushed them to their limits. Mentions that it was good to spend some time out there, and says that the focus was to keep things simple, and to trust the information from the batters who went out there. Further adds that it was difficult against the slower bowlers at the start, and says that Nepal might reflect on the last over, but overall, they were very good with their tactics. He feels that spinners will have a big role to play if the conditions remain the same and praises Liam Dawson for his performance. Ends by saying that the new haircut has started well, with one win in one game and he hopes the results continue to be positive.
It was a narrow escape for England! While England takes the points, they have plenty to ponder. Liam Dawson was the standout with the ball, bowling an economical spell and taking two wickets, but it was a forgettable outing for the pace duo of Jofra Archer and Luke Wood. They picked up a wicket each but were expensive. Their main spinner, Adil Rashid, was wicketless and expensive as well.
The heart popping finish - Just as Nepal looked poised for a historic upset, the tide turned. Dipendra Singh Airee fell in the 15th over, and Paudel followed shortly after with 39, leaving the lower order to finish the job. Lokesh Bam refused to go down without a fight, smashing a blistering 39* off 20 balls to keep the dream alive. However, the experience of Sam Curran just about prevailed in the death as Nepal agonizingly fell short by 4 runs!
Nepal launched a great counter-attack - Chasing 185, Nepal showed no signs of getting intimidated. Despite losing Aasif Sheikh early and Kushal Bhurtel falling for a quickfire 29 inside the Powerplay, the game was far from over. The duo of captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee turned the tables with a magnificent 82-run partnership off just 54 balls. Airee was instrumental, scoring 44 and becoming the first Nepalese batter to cross 2000 T20I runs, putting the pressure right back on England.
England had set a challenging total - Earlier in the day, England posted a competitive 184/7, though it wasn't smooth sailing. While Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell lit up the stadium with explosive half-centuries, and Will Jacks provided late fireworks, Nepal's bowlers were disciplined. Their spinners, particularly Sandeep Lamichhane and Dipendra Singh Airee, choked the run flow in the middle overs, while Nandan Yadav picked up crucial wickets to keep the English batters in check.
A last-ball thriller at Wankhede! What an absolute thriller we have witnessed here in Mumbai. In a game that swung like a pendulum, England has managed to hold their nerve to edge past a spirited Nepal side by just 4 runs. It all came down to the final over, where Sam Curran was given the task with 10 runs needed off 6 balls. He delivered under immense pressure, sealing a last-ball victory that saved England’s blushes. Heartbreak for Nepal, who fought till the end. They can walk away with their heads held high.
Heartbreak for Lokesh Bam, and Nepal! So close, yet cruelly out of reach. Sam Curran steps up when his team needed him the most. He does not quite get the yorker right, but bowls a low full toss. Not an easy ball to hit for six. Lokesh Bam fails to get under it fully and only drills it as far as long off for one. He gets down on his knees at the other end and is inconsolable as he feels this got away from them. There is a sense of relief in the English camp, they just about get over the line here. ENGLAND WIN BY 4 RUNS!
6 needed off 1 ball. Extended chat between the bowler and Harry Brook. Jos Buttler also joins. You can cut the tension with a knife here.
Right in the blockhole, on middle, Lokesh Bam jams it out towards long on. He sets off the run but then decides against it. Probably the right thing to do, as if anyone can do it for Nepal, it is Bam. 6 needed off the last ball.
Fuller delivery, on the pads, Lokesh Bam picks it up and whips it wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 6 from 2 now. One big hit will do it for Nepal. Can Bam be the hero for them?
Gets the yorker in, on middle and leg, Karan KC can only jam it out towards long on for a run. Nepal need 8 runs in 3 balls.
A full toss, on off, Lokesh Bam lofts it towards long off for a single. He is looking for the second but it is not available.
Good start from Sam Curran! He goes fuller and around off, almost in the blockhole, Lokesh Bam looks to go big down the ground but misses. 10 needed off 5 now.
Stop everything. You simply cannot miss this. Nepal need 10 from the final over to pull off a famous upset on the grand stage. Lokesh Bam on strike, Karan KC is the new batter at the non-striker end. Sam Curran with the ball, pressure thick enough to cut. Here we go.
OUT! CASTLED! Luke Wood finishes the over well here. He goes full and straight, attacking the stumps. Gulshan Jha stays deep inside the crease and has a swing across the line but misses due to the extra pace. The ball goes through to shatter the stumps. Nepal are 175/6, but the good thing for them is Lokesh Bam will be on strike for the final over.
More good fielding from Will Jacks! Overpitched delivery, on middle, Lokesh Bam crouches low and slogs it hard and wide of long on. Jacks quickly runs to his left and stops it well to keep it to just one run.
JUST SHORT! A full toss, on middle, Lokesh Bam lofts it down the ground but does not get the timing. Will Jacks from long on runs to his left and dives but fails to reach it. However, he does well to get his body behind the line to stop the boundary. Two taken.
WIDE! This is not good from Luke Wood! He fails to execute the wide yorker once again, bowls this outside the wide guideline. Nepal won't mind, they will take a few more of these if they can.
FOUR! Lokesh Bam is playing a blinder here! This is a slower one, full and around off. Bam tries to loft it over mid off, who is up in the circle. He does not get it from the middle of the bat but gets enough to clear the fielder. The fielder from long on runs to his left but cannot cut it out as the ball trickles away to the fence for a boundary. 14 needed in 9 now.
A precious dot! Luke Wood finally gets it right, serves this full and around off, angling away. Lokesh Bam goes down for the slog sweep but only connects with thin air.
WIDE! Another one! This shows England are under pressure here. Wood spills another full delivery, way outside off, Lokesh Bam lets it go. 18 needed in 11 now.
WIDE! Tries the wide yorker, but bowls this way outside off, Lokesh Bam leaves it alone. Wided.
FOUR! Perfect start to the over for Nepal! It does not matter how the runs come as long as they keep coming. Fuller and around off, Lokesh Bam goes down to swipe it away but gets a top edge over the keeper's head for a boundary. 20 needed in 11 now.
Overpitched and on middle, Lokesh Bam makes room and drives it to sweeper cover for one and keeps the strike. 24 needed in 12 now.
SIX MORE! Bam goes boom... Nepal are not backing down here. Archer bangs this into the pitch, but gives no pace to the batter. Lokesh Bam is expecting that, he moves inside the line of the ball and pulls it away. The fielder at deep square leg thinks he is in the game but only watches it sail over his head for another six.
SIX! What a shot under pressure! Jofra Archer sticks to the slower delivery, but serves this full, on off. Lokesh Bam gets right underneath the ball and tonks it over the long off fence for half a dozen more.