Nepal Fall Short Again Despite Stronger Performance, Lose to England by 4 Runs in ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Thriller

On June 15, 2024, Nepal played South Africa in the T20 World Cup and suffered a heartbreaking defeat by just 1 run. Nearly two years later, Nepal once again found themselves in a similar situation—this time against England.

Although Nepal delivered a better overall performance than they did against South Africa, the result was still painful. In a tense, high-pressure contest, Nepal narrowly lost to England by 4 runs, missing out on what could have been one of the biggest victories in the nation’s cricketing history.

Another Heartbreak for Nepal Fans

Despite showing maturity in both batting and bowling, Nepal once again failed in the most crucial phase of the game—finishing. The inability to close out the match with calm execution proved costly, leaving players and fans stunned.

Thousands of spectators inside the stadium and millions of Nepali cricket supporters watching from home were forced to endure yet another heartbreaking moment. The defeat, especially after coming so close, once again revived the familiar phrase:

“So close, yet so far.”

Losing narrowly against England—currently ranked third in the ICC rankings—has once again highlighted Nepal’s potential, but also their struggle to convert strong performances into wins.

Nepal Earn Praise Worldwide Despite the Loss

Even though Nepal ended on the losing side, the team’s fighting spirit and competitive performance has sparked discussions globally. Many cricket followers and analysts around the world have been impressed by Nepal’s ability to challenge a heavyweight like England.

The match further proved that Nepal’s cricket is now being closely watched and respected on the world stage.

Bowling Review: Strong Start but Middle-Over Struggles

Nepal began the match strongly with the ball, but their performance dipped during the middle overs and the death overs, which ultimately allowed England to post a challenging total.

Although Nepal managed to pick up a few wickets in the death overs, they failed to control the flow of runs. As a result, they were unable to restrict England below 180, and England finished at 184 runs.

Dream International Debut for Sher Malla

One of the biggest highlights for Nepal was debutant Sher Malla, who played his first-ever international match for Nepal on the World Cup stage. He made an instant impact by dismissing aggressive England opener Phil Salt on the very first ball he bowled.

Soon after, England also lost Jos Buttler and Tom Banton, leaving them struggling at 57 for 3. Nepal had successfully applied early pressure and looked on track to dominate.

However, Nepal were unable to strike again quickly.

Bethell and Brook Stabilize England

Nepal had to wait a long time for the fourth wicket. During that period, England captain Harry Brook and batter Jacob Bethell built a crucial partnership of 71 runs, bringing England back into a strong position.

This partnership became one of the key turning points in the match, as Nepal failed to take wickets during the middle overs.

Will Jacks Provides the Final Blow

After Brook and Bethell set the platform, Will Jacks delivered a powerful finishing performance. He struck one four and four sixes, pushing England’s total up to 184 runs.

Nepal’s inability to take wickets during the middle overs played a major role in England reaching such a strong score.

After the match, bowler Nandan Yadav admitted that Nepal could have restricted England to a lower total if they had avoided giving away extra runs through fielding and bowling mistakes.

England Players Praise Nepal’s Effort

England players openly appreciated Nepal’s performance. All-rounder Will Jacks stated that Nepal played brilliantly and made England feel genuine pressure.

“We won, but Nepal’s performance was definitely praiseworthy,” Jacks said after the match.

Batting Review: Bright Start but Weak Finishing Costs Nepal

Nepal’s batting also showed clear improvement and maturity. The team displayed aggression, intent, and strong partnerships. However, the match slipped away once again due to poor finishing under pressure.

Kushal Bhurtel Leads the Charge

Although opener Aasif Sheikh was dismissed cheaply, Kushal Bhurtel played confidently from the beginning, striking quality shots and giving Nepal an excellent start.

After Bhurtel was dismissed, captain Rohit Paudel and vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee built a solid partnership, and for a period, Nepal looked in control of the chase.

Rohit and Dipendra Fall, England Return to the Game

The momentum shifted when both key batters were dismissed in quick succession:

• Dipendra Singh Airee was out for 44
• Rohit Paudel was dismissed for 39

Their wickets allowed England to fight back and regain control.

Lokesh Bam Brings Hope With Explosive Hitting

When Nepal began to fall behind, Lokesh Bam produced a crucial counterattack. He smashed England pace bowler Jofra Archer for two consecutive sixes, swinging the momentum back toward Nepal and keeping the chase alive.

His powerful hitting ensured that Nepal stayed in the match right up until the final over.

Sam Curran’s Brilliant Final Over Ends Nepal’s Dream

The match came down to the last over, with Nepal needing 10 runs off the final ball scenario eventually forming in the dramatic finish. England’s young star bowler Sam Curran delivered an outstanding final over, bowling all six deliveries at a near-perfect length and denying Nepal a historic victory.

Curran’s calmness under pressure proved the value of experience and exposure at the highest level.

After the match, Curran revealed that he had assured captain Brook that he would bowl six yorkers in the final over—a statement that reflected his confidence and execution.

The final over became a contest between:

• Lokesh Bam, playing his first-ever World Cup match
• Sam Curran, an experienced international with hundreds of matches behind him

Curran ultimately won that battle, exposing that Nepal still has some loopholes in finishing matches under pressure—an area that needs improvement if Nepal want to achieve major upsets in future games.

Debutants Impress: Sher, Nandan, and Lokesh Shine on the Big Stage

Nepal had selected five players who were playing their first World Cup, and four of them got the chance to feature in the match against England.

• Aarif Sheikh, Nandan Yadav, and Lokesh Bam made their World Cup debut
• Sher Malla made his international debut directly in a World Cup match

Among them, three players stood out and made significant impacts.

Sher Malla’s Immediate Breakthrough

Sher made headlines by dismissing Phil Salt in the second over—his first over and first delivery in international cricket. Taking the wicket of such a dangerous batter gave Nepal an early advantage and allowed them to keep England under pressure.

Nandan Yadav’s Key Wickets

Fast bowler Nandan Yadav took important wickets, including:

• Jos Buttler
• Captain Harry Brook

He used pace and variation effectively on the Mumbai pitch, showing great promise.

Lokesh Bam’s Fearless Batting

Lokesh Bam’s finishing effort brought Nepal close to victory. Even though Nepal could not cross the line, his hitting ensured the match went down to the last over.

Together, these debutants delivered match-influencing performances against a top team like England, boosting Nepal’s confidence for upcoming matches.

Lokesh Bam Reflects on Missed Opportunity

After the match, Lokesh Bam admitted that he was excited to play his first World Cup game, but felt he lacked the experience needed to execute perfectly in such a high-pressure situation.

“It was my first World Cup. I had been watching this tournament for a long time, so I was very excited. But I think I missed execution because of lack of experience,” Lokesh said after the match.

Nepal Show Promise, But Must Learn to Finish

Nepal’s narrow defeat against England once again proved that the team has the skill and courage to challenge the world’s best. However, the match also highlighted Nepal’s biggest weakness—closing games under pressure, both in bowling during the middle overs and in batting during the final moments.

Even in defeat, Nepal earned respect globally, and their performance against a world-class England side has strengthened belief that Nepal are not far away from achieving a historic breakthrough win on the world stage.