\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2026\/02\/08170646a7e4481.webp\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
England clung on to beat Nepal by four runs in a last-ball thriller in Mumbai on Sunday and avoid one of the biggest upsets in the history of the T20 World Cup.<\/p>\n
Chasing an imposing 185 to win, Nepal\u2019s Lokesh Bam (39 not out) needed a six off the final delivery of the match bowled by Sam Curran but could only club the ball to deep cover for a single.<\/p>\n
It was an agonising end to a valiant run chase by the cricketing minnows, who put England\u2019s premier bowlers Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid to the sword.<\/p>\n
Jacob Bethell (55) and Harry Brook (53) scored quick fifties for England but it was a late cameo by Will Jacks that took them to 184-7 in the Group C match, a total that proved just out of reach.<\/p>\n
Jacks smashed three spectacular sixes off the final over from Karan KC to finish 39 not out off 18 balls .<\/p>\n
Nepal fell just short at 180-6, despite being roared on by most of the spectators in a three-quarters full Wankhede stadium.<\/p>\n
They got off to a flying start in their chase, Kushal Bhurtel crunching 29 off 17 balls before Jacks had him caught and bowled.<\/p>\n
Captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee came together at 42-2 and brought up Nepal\u2019s 100 in the 12th over.<\/p>\n
Pace man Archer, who conceded 14 off his first over, was brought back and put the brakes on, conceding just six runs from his next two overs.<\/p>\n
But the Nepali batsmen took to Rashid at the other end, launching the leg-spinner for 19 off his third over with Airee hitting two sixes and a four.<\/p>\n
He finished with 0-42 from three overs.<\/p>\n
The blitz left Nepal needing 62 off the last six overs with eight wickets in hand.<\/p>\n
Left-arm seamer Curran returned and immediately got the vital breakthrough, ending the 82-run partnership for the third wicket when Airee holed out to Tom Banton for 44.<\/p>\n
The wicket slowed Nepal\u2019s charge and Paudel, on 39, then swept Liam Dawson to Phil Salt at deep midwicket to leave them 126-4 in the 16th over.<\/p>\n
Archer came back for a final over and proved expensive again, being thrashed for three sixes and 22 runs by Lokesh to leave Nepal 24 off 12 balls for an unlikely win.<\/p>\n
Dawson was the pick of England\u2019s bowlers with 2-21 while Archer had 1-42 from his four as England just held on.<\/p>\n