England deny Nepal in final-ball World Cup thriller

T20 World Cup, Group C, Mumbai

England 184-7 (20 overs): Bethell 55 (35), Brook 53 (32)

Nepal 180-6 (20 overs): Airee 44 (29), Lokesh 39* (20); Dawson 2-21

England won by four runs

England fought back from the brink to avoid a major shock and beat an inspired Nepal by four runs in their opening match of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai.

A month on from the conclusion of their Ashes defeat, England needed Sam Curran to defend 10 from the last over to deny Nepal the biggest win in their cricketing history and save his side from more misery.

The brilliant Lokesh Bam needed to hit the last ball for six to secure victory but only managed one.

Lokesh, who finished on 39 not out from 20 balls, dropped to his haunches at the finish as England’s players shook his hand to congratulate his efforts.

He had looked to be taking his side to victory when he struck two sixes to take Jofra Archer for 22 in the 18th over before swiping Luke Wood for another two fours in the 19th.

But England hung on – the recently-recalled Curran finding yorkers under pressure at the death.

It means head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook, who scored 53 in England’s 184-7, begin their World Cup without the ignominy of overseeing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

England’s relief was obvious at the end. There was no wild celebration. They had pulled it back from the brink.

Despite all that has happened this winter, they came into this World Cup among the favourites having won 10 of their past 11 T20s.

Had Curran not salvaged the victory, everything – McCullum’s future in particular – would have come under the microscope again.

That is pushed back for another day. England must also be praised for not wilting where other England sides have before.

Curran already appeared to have swung the momentum once.

After Nepal reached 124-2, his slower ball stopped Dipendra Singh Airee on 44 as the right-hander was caught at deep over. Captain Rohit Paudel was dismissed by Dawson for 39 in the next over.

But England’s experienced bowlers of Archer and Adil Rashid, who conceded 42 from three overs, struggled, leaving Curran to bowl at the last.

He did not concede a boundary in the final over, mixing his pace and bowling predominately full.

Nepal’s players completed a lap of honour in front of their deflated supporters at the end.

Though they have been tipped to cause problems at this World Cup, having beaten West Indies over three matches last year and taken South Africa to the final ball at the 2024 World Cup, they have never beaten a major nation on the world stage.

They were excellent with the ball too – leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane the pick with 1-25, including the wicket of Tom Banton lbw for two.

Off-spinner Sher Malla had Phil Salt caught off a top edge with his first ball in international cricket and Airee also took two wickets with his off-spin in a fine all-round performance.

Jacob Bethell made an entertaining 55 and Brook a well-placed 53 for England, but Nepal’s batting was on a par as they swept and scurried.