MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 9, 2026 – In what will be remembered as one of the greatest matches in Associate cricket history, Nepal narrowly missed a monumental upset against world giants England on Sunday, February 8. In a high-octane ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group C encounter at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Nepal fell just 4 runs short of England’s total, finishing at 180/6 in response to England’s 184/7.
The stadium was a sea of red and blue as over 17,000 fans, mostly Nepali supporters, cheered every ball. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the “Rhinos” proved they belong on the world stage by taking the two-time champions down to the very last delivery.
First Innings: England Sets a Steep Target
England, after winning the toss and electing to bat, faced a disciplined Nepali bowling attack early on. Nandan Yadav provided the first breakthrough by dismissing Phil Salt and followed it up with the huge wicket of Jos Buttler (26). However, half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (55 off 35) and captain Harry Brook (53 off 32) stabilized the English innings. A late blitz by Will Jacks, who smashed 39* off just 18 balls, propelled England to a competitive 184/7.
Nepal’s Bowling Standouts: Dipendra Singh Airee (2/23) and Nandan Yadav (2/25) were exceptional, while Sandeep Lamichhane and Sher Malla chipped in with a wicket each.
The Chase: Nepal’s Fearless Resistance
Nepal began the chase with intent, reaching 31/0 in just three overs. While openers Kushal Bhurtel (29) and Aasif Sheikh fell shortly after, a magnificent 82-run partnership between captain Rohit Paudel (39 off 34) and Dipendra Singh Airee (44 off 29) kept Nepal in the hunt. During his knock, Dipendra became the first Nepali cricketer to cross 2,000 T20I runs, marking a historic milestone.
The Lokesh Bam Cameo & Final Over Drama
The game reached a fever pitch when Lokesh Bam arrived at the crease. With Nepal needing 46 runs from the final 18 balls, Bam unleashed a flurry of boundaries. He hit Jofra Archer for two consecutive sixes and punished Sam Curran and Luke Wood to bring the equation down to 10 runs needed off the final 6 balls.
English left-arm seamer Sam Curran was tasked with defending the total. Curran showed nerves of steel, conceding only 5 runs from the first five deliveries. With 5 needed off the final ball, Lokesh Bam—who finished with a blistering 39 off 20 balls*—could only manage a single to long-off. The sight of Bam on his knees, inconsolable at the non-striker’s end, captured the heartbreak of a nation that came so close to history.
Reaction from the Field
“I am immensely proud of the boys,” said Nepal captain Rohit Paudel after the match. “We didn’t come here just to participate; we came to compete. We proved today that we can challenge any side in the world.” English captain Harry Brook admitted they were “given a right proper scare,” praising Nepal’s tactical discipline and spirit.
Nepal will now face Italy in their second group match on Wednesday, while England moves on to face the West Indies.