Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook stole the show with explosive fifties while Will Jacks provided the finishing kick as England had moments of ups and downs and posted 184/7 in 20 overs. They will be happy with the score one feels. Nepal had their moments with the ball and in the field but looks a tall order now to chase 180+ on a used surface. Let’s see how the chase unfolds.
England get off to a fast start despite losing both the openers in powerplay
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Philip Salt and Jos Buttler came out to open for England while Karan KC had ball in hand for Nepal. Buttler made his intentions clear by slamming the ball downtown for a boundary over the bowler’s head. Debutant Sher Malla came out to bat next and he removed Salt for 1 off 2 balls in his first delivery of his spell. Jacob Bethell came out to bat next. He got off the mark with a thumping shot through point for a boundary and then went over midwicket for the maximum.
Bethell pulled the ball past short fine leg for a boundary. Karan continued as Buttler hit a short arm pull through midwicket for a boundary. Dipendra Singh Airee came to bowl next. Buttler was on the charge as he thumped Airee for a boundary through covers and then smashed again over mid-off for a boundary. Nandan Yadav came into the attack next as Buttler slapped him away past backward point fence for a boundary. But Nandan hit back and got rid of Buttler who threw his wicket away as he played away from the body and got the edge to the keeper for 26 off 17 balls with 5 fours to his name.
Tom Banton came to the crease next. Sher Malla came back into the attack for the last over of powerplay as Bethell pummelled him for a maximum over midwicket of a length ball. The 50 came up for England as well in 5.3 overs. Bethell crisply timed it away in front of point for a boundary as well. Malla dropped a tough caught and bowled chance of his own bowling as Banton got a lifeline. At the end of the powerplay, England were 57/2 in 6 overs with Bethell on 27* off 13 balls while Banton was with him on 2* off 4 balls.
Tom Banton falls, but Jacob Bethell’s fifty drives England forward in the middle phase of the game
Sandeep Lamichhane came into the attack after powerplay and he removed Tom Banton for 2 off 5 balls as the reverse sweep went awry as he was struck plumb in front. Captain Harry Brook came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Brook played a reverse sweep for a boundary to third man region. Nandan returned to the attack and he bowled a decent over. Sandeep continued and bowled a quiet over.
Kushal Bhurtel came into the attack now as he was welcomed by Brook for a boundary between backward point and short third man for a boundary. England were 84/3 in 10 overs at the halfway stage of the game. Malla continued as Bethell stood back and cut it between backward point and short third man for a boundary. Bhurtel continued as Bethell rocked back and pulled him away down the ground for the maximum as the 100 came up for England in 11.2 overs. Bethell hit another maximum with a slog sweep over deep square leg as he reached his fifty in 28 balls. Bethell completed 50 international sixes as well.
Sandeep continued as the 50-run stand came up between the two players. Brook went up and over extra covers for a boundary. Brook then went big and launched it over long-on for the maximum. Airee came back to the attack as Brook launched him over long-on down the ground for the maximum. Bethell then was removed by Airee for 55 off 35 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes to his name as he tried to go for it but the man from long-on took the catch.
Drinks was taken after which Sam Curran came out to bat next. Bhurtel came to bowl the 15th over as Brook drove the ball between extra cover and long-off for a boundary. England reached 134/4 in 15 overs with Brook unbeaten on 45 off 25 balls while Sam Curran was with him unbeaten on 1 off 6 balls. Interesting last 5 overs lay ahead of us.
Late Flourish from Will Jacks powers England to 184/7
Dipendra Singh Airee continued and got rid of Sam Curran for 2 off 8 balls by cleaning him up. Will Jacks came out to bat next. He got off the mark as well. Sandeep continued and bowled a brilliant 17th over. Bhurtel came to bowl the 18th over. Jacks broke the shackle as he launched the ball down the ground for the maximum over long-on. The 150 came up for England in 18 overs. Nandan Yadav came to bowl the 19th over as Harry Brook reached his fifty off 31 balls with the maximum over midwicket.
Nandan hit back and got rid of Harry Brook for 53 off 32 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes to his name as he was holed out in the deep. Jofra Archer came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Jacks hit another boundary past the keeper and away for a boundary. Karan KC came to bowl the final over of the innings. Jacks decided to take on the bowling as he smashed the bowler over long-off down the ground for the maximum.
Jacks went big again as he stayed leg side and went over backward point for the maximum. Archer sacrificed his wicket via a run out for 1 off 3 balls. Liam Dawson came in at the bowler’s end for the last ball of the innings. Jacks was on strike as the batter got down on one knee and went inside out over extra cover for the maximum. Jacks remained unbeaten on 39 off 18 balls with one four and four sixes to his name while Dawson remained unbeaten on 0 off 0 balls. England finished with 184/7 in 20 overs with 5 extras given by the fielding side.
It was a mixed day for Nepal bowlers. Nandan Yadav picked up 2/25 in 3 overs. Dipendra Singh Airee finished with 2/23 in 3 overs. Sandeep Lamichhane finished with 1/25 in 4 overs. Sher Malla finished with 1/35 in 3 overs. Karan KC went for 35 in 3 overs and Kushal Bhurtel went for 40 in 4 overs. Nepal now needs a mammoth 185 to win the game and do the unthinkable.
Who’s Winning, Nepal or England?Â
England have got a lot of runs on the board. Nepal were good in patches but not good enough at all. Nepal has to bat out of their skins to win this contest. England has the bowling and should win this easily. Can we see an upset? Nepal with all to do at this stage.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: Nepal Chips Away At Wickets To Keep England Under Check