England vs Nepal, 5th Match, Group C at Mumbai, T20 World Cup, Feb 08 2026 - Match Result

RESULT
5th Match, Group C (D/N), Wankhede, February 08, 2026, ICC Men's T20 World Cup
184/7
(20 ov, T:185) 180/6

England won by 4 runs

will-jacks
Player Of The Match
39* (18) & 1/17
will-jacks
Cricinfo's MVP
86.03 ptsImpact List
Match centre Scores :  Chandan Duorah •  Comms :  Andrew Miller
Scorecard summary
England1 Inn
184/7(20 overs)
Nepal2 Inn
180/6(20 overs)
*39 (20)
1/27 (4)
View full scorecard
Cricinfo's Most Valuable Players of the Match
PlayerTeam
TI
B. Impact
Bowl
ENG86.0360.11/17
ENG75.702/21
ENG57.7557.75-
NEP55.9923.172/23
ENG55.2355.23-
View full list
Over20
5 runs
NEP 180/6CRR: 9.00
Lokesh Bam 39 (20b 4x4 2x6)Karan KC 1 (1b)
SM Curran1/27 (4)

6.48pm So, that's your lot from Game 2, Matchday 2... what a thriller it's been. But never fear, the action keeps coming. Shashwat is all over the build-up to Sri Lanka vs Ireland in Colombo.

Talha Hameed: "What a captivating start to the T20 World Cup. Five matches in, and already the tournament has delivered edge-of-the-seat drama. Netherlands, Scotland, USA, Afghanistan, and Nepal all pushed their opponents to the brink, coming agonizingly close to memorable victories before narrowly falling short."

ShahSafeer: "The most dependable bowlers went for plenty while the ones who were not expected to play the major role to avoid perhaps the biggest embarrassment yet in their cricket history came out brilliantly admired heroes! Well done to Sam and Liam!"

RaMa: "Now cricket is truly becoming global sports Many countries not just playing but competing . Good for sport T20."

Nepal's players are doing a lap of honour, as well they might. Meanwhile, the player of the match is Will Jacks. Key runs and a wicket for the Real Spin Shady.

"Full credit to Nepal, they were absolutely brilliant. The pitch was tricky but they played the spin really well and took us close there. Nice to spend some time in the middle, I let the ball come and kept it simple. Didn't overhit it. I saw they were debating that last over, but tactically they were very good, pushed us to the brink there. If the surfaces continue to behave like that, our adaptability will be crucial."

Harry Brook: "It wasn't easy at all, thankfully we got over the line. They played extremely well, not many teams take Adil Rashid down the way they did. They put us in a tricky situation. I thought we were in a very good position to defend that, didn't think it would go as close. I wish them all the best for the rest of the competition.

"Beth played outstanding, the way he was rocking back and smacking the spinners into the stands was great. Jacksy slipped into his role at 7. That last over won us the game.

"I just said we put 2-3 wickets and it all changes. We stuck to our guns and stayed calm. We have so many options. I don't think Sam bowled until a lot later on than usual. Rash got a bit of tap there and it's not often that he doesn't bowl four overs. I am sure he will bounce back better. Sam knew exactly what he was going to do, and executed outstandingly.

Rohit Paudel: "Result-wise, it didn't go our way, but effort-wise, I give 100% on fielding, bowling and batting. England were also struggling with death bowling, but Sam Curran bowled really well. It's hard for bowlers in death overs to bowl, especially yorkers, those slower bouncers. But I think we'll improve from there

"We were calculating for the last five overs. We wanted wickets in hand and at least 10 or 12 runs per over. So we were discussing about that only, and were targeting first two balls for boundaries.

"No, it was not a particular plan to take on Rashid, but it happened. And we thought as a group that we could take on him today, and it went good for us.

We will not take any of the teams lightly. And all other teams in this tournament will not take any teams lightly. So that's the message. We as a team need to be on our 100%

"The fans are very passionate. They are very passionate. The whole of Kathmandu, whole of Nepal came here to support us. We carried their belief, and I think all of Nepal will be proud of us.

6.35pm Goodness me, what a match. What a start to this World Cup! No upsets yet, but competitiveness across the board, from Netherlands to USA, and now to the plucky Cardiac Kids! It was a day when England were taken to the brink... when their gun bowlers, Rashid and Archer, got emphatically battered out of the attack... but the depth and versatility of England's other options hauled them over the line. Handshakes all round, and respect in spades. Between Bhurtel in the powerplay, Airee and Paudel through the middle, and Bam at the death, they showed guts and strokeplay against every type of bowler, but just couldn't close the deal.

19.6
1
Sam Curran to Lokesh Bam, 1 run

low full toss, clubbed to deep cover! England hold their nerve! Wow... what a contest. What an over from Curran. What a magnificent brawling chase from Nepal!

Another discussion. Got to be the full length again, surely, and challenge Bam to manufacture some elevation on the ball...

Avik Bhatter: "Sam with Ball. Bam with Bat . Curran with Ball. Karan with Bat ! Bazball 0, Bam ball 1" Dr Seuss, is that you?

19.5
Sam Curran to Lokesh Bam, no run

he does, right up in the blockhole, on leg stump from over the wicket, clipped to the on-side... turns down the single. it's six or bust now for Nepal!

Prayers being offered in the stands. Curran and Brook discuss options. Does he stick to plan A and stay full and leg-sided?

19.4
2
Sam Curran to Lokesh Bam, 2 runs

bottom-handed flick, Curran hits his full length again, and deep midwicket gathers it on the bounce. This is high-class death bowling... Six from two now

Where's the boundary coming from? Bam is back on strike, which is crucial for Nepal

19.3
1
Sam Curran to Karan KC, 1 run

full, leg-stump line from Curran, so well bowled with a packed leg-side field. Just a compact flick to the on-side, and it's 8 from 3 needed...

What's Karan KC got up his sleeve? The prosecution makes its case...

19.2
1
Sam Curran to Lokesh Bam, 1 run

low full toss, no width to free the arms, mistimed to mid-off, and they take the single...

Nepal lost to SA by one run in 2024... can they harness that memory and go one better?

19.1
Sam Curran to Lokesh Bam, no run

wonderful ball under pressure! A full-length cutter, so tight to off stump, draws an air-shot

Lokesh Bam... remember the name? This ground certainly will! Sam Curran to bowl

Over19
14 runs, 1 wicketNeed 10 from 6b
NEP 175/6CRR: 9.21  RRR: 10.00
Lokesh Bam 35 (15b 4x4 2x6)
L Wood1/31 (3)
18.6
W
Wood to Gulsan Jha, OUT

has a wipe, Wood finds the stumps! That's gutsy from Wood, cross-seam, pace on, straight through on the full length. Gulshan comes and goes, and now the equation is simple. Ten to win from six!

Gulsan Jha b Wood 1 (2b 0x4 0x6 13m) SR: 50

One ball to come. A shot to nothing for Gulshan. Boundary or bust! Who cares with Bam to face the last...

18.5
1
Wood to Lokesh Bam, 1 run

connects on a flat wipe down the ground, from outside off. Jacks gathers a bouncing ball well to limit them to a single

18.4
2
Wood to Lokesh Bam, 2 runs

low full toss, doesn't carry to long-on! Clothed down the ground, high on the bat. So close as Jacks skidded in, and in the end he does well to get his body behind the ball to prevent the boundary

18.4
1w
Wood to Lokesh Bam, 1 wide

he goes wide again, outside the tramlines again! Wood is the wrong side of his mark for the third time in the over, and the requirement ebbs away again!

Square leg comes up

Nepal truly believe now! Brook takes a moment to discuss with Buttler and Wood. Still three balls left in this over!

18.3
4
Wood to Lokesh Bam, FOUR runs

huge air, finds the boundary down the ground! It was toe-ended, but who cares! Bam steps into the length, swings through the slower ball, finds the gap between two fielders in the deep!

18.2
Wood to Lokesh Bam, no run

better line from Wood! He's got his outswinger going, and Bam can't connect with a wipe across the line from over the wicket

18.2
1w
Wood to Lokesh Bam, 1 wide

Wood is trying to hide it outside off, with the wide outswinger, but he's the wrong side of the mark once again!

Craig: "Cometh the hour cometh the Bam, Bam Bam!"

18.2
1w
Wood to Lokesh Bam, 1 wide

too far outside off, reload! This is properly on now!

18.1
4
Wood to Lokesh Bam, FOUR runs

can't defend those! Decent length from Wood, full and across the bows, Bam kneels for a sweep, a fat top-edge flies over the keeper!

Now then, now then! Back comes Luke Wood, for one hell of a death over. What can he leave his team to defend for the final over?

Over18
22 runs, 1 wicketNeed 24 from 12b
NEP 161/5CRR: 8.94  RRR: 12.00
Lokesh Bam 24 (10b 2x4 2x6)Gulsan Jha 1 (1b)
JC Archer1/42 (4)
17.6
1
Archer to Lokesh Bam, 1 run

goes for the leg-sided yorker, eased out to deep cover for the single. The rate is dragged back to two a ball! That is Archer's most expensive World Cup over!

17.5
6
Archer to Lokesh Bam, SIX runs

pace off again, hauled over deep midwicket! It was the slow bouncer, Bam by name, Bam by nature! Jacks was back on the rope, diving back in vain as the ball just eludes him!

17.4
6
Archer to Lokesh Bam, SIX runs

another cutter, picked like a peach off a low-hanging tree! Bam steps into the length, times his bat swing to perfection, and smokes it over the sightscreen!

17.4
1w
Archer to Lokesh Bam, 1 wide

too far outside the arc this time, Bam has a wipe but can't get close to it

17.3
1
Archer to Gulsan Jha, 1 run

round the wicket, full length outside off, drilled hard out to the cover sweeper

Right, do or die now for Nepal. No point in standing on ceremony!

Best performances - batters
Spike GraphWagon Zone
JG Bethell
55 runs (35)
4 fours4 sixes
Productive shot
pull
15 runs
0 four2 sixes
Control
81%
HC Brook
53 runs (32)
4 fours3 sixes
Productive shot
on drive
16 runs
0 four2 sixes
Control
88%
Best performances - bowlers
LA Dawson
O
4
M
0
R
21
W
2
ECO
5.25
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
2W
DS Airee
O
3
M
0
R
23
W
2
ECO
7.66
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
1W
Match details
TossEngland, elected to bat first
Season2025/26
Player Of The Match
Match numberT20I no. 3688
Hours of play (local time)15.00 start, First Session 15.00-16.30, Interval 16.30-16.50, Second Session 16.50-18.20
Match days8 February 2026 - daynight (20-over match)
T20I debut
T20 debut
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
PointsEngland 2, Nepal 0