Curran holds his nerve to deny Nepal a famous win

Sam Curran saved England from embarrassment in Mumbai, securing a narrow four-run victory over Nepal in a thrilling match at the Wankhede Stadium. Needing 10 runs from the final over, Nepal managed only five against Curran, marking another heartbreaking defeat for them in ICC T20 World Cups, reminiscent of their one-run loss to South Africa in the previous tournament.

Dipendra Singh Airee (44) and Lokesh Bam spearheaded Nepal's chase, responding to fifties from England's Jacob Bethell (55) and Harry Brook (53). Will Jacks' explosive cameo of 39* off 18 balls, highlighted by a 21-run assault on Karan KC in the last over, ultimately proved decisive.

Nepal started confidently in their chase of 185, with Kushal Bhurtel striking three boundaries off Jofra Archer in the opening overs. However, Liam Dawson broke through by dismissing Aasif Sheikh, slowing Nepal's momentum and leading to Bhurtel's dismissal off Jacks.

Dipendra Singh Airee reignited Nepal's innings, aggressively targeting Adil Rashid and Will Jacks. In the 14th over, Airee and Rohit Paudel plundered 19 runs off Rashid, setting a record for the most runs conceded by an England spinner in a T20 World Cup over (42). But Airee fell soon after for 44, caught at deep cover, ending an 82-run partnership. Paudel followed, dismissed by Dawson, as England regained control.

Lokesh Bam then launched a stunning counter-attack, hitting boundaries off Sam Curran and smashing three sixes in a 22-run over against Jofra Archer, reducing the equation to 24 needed off 12 balls. Bam continued his assault in the penultimate over against Luke Wood, bringing it down to 10 off the final over. Curran, however, held his nerve with precise yorkers, echoing his role in the 2022 World Cup, to seal England's win.

Earlier, England chose to bat on a used pitch. They faced an early setback when Phil Salt fell to Sher Malla's first ball in T20Is. Jacob Bethell responded aggressively, and despite Jos Buttler's quickfire start and subsequent dismissal, England reached 57/2 in the PowerPlay. Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane struck with his first ball to remove Tom Banton.

Bethell reached his fifty with consecutive sixes, while Harry Brook attacked Lamichhane through the off-side. Airee dismissed Bethell for 55 and Sam Curran cheaply. Lamichhane bowled a tight one-run 17th over, but Brook brought up his fifty with a six in the 18th before falling next ball. The final over was pivotal, as Will Jacks hammered Karan KC for three sixes, adding 21 runs. Ironically, England's innings ended with a six—the exact margin Nepal needed off the final ball of their chase.

Brief Scores: England 184/6 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 55, Harry Brook 53; Dipendra Singh Airee 2-23, Nandan Yadav 2-25) beat Nepal 180/6 in 20 overs (Dipendra Singh Airee 44, Lokesh Bam 39*; Liam Dawson 2-21, Will Jacks 1-17) by four runs.