Mumbai:
The Nepal vs England T20 scorecard from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 tells a story far more dramatic than the final result suggests. England may have walked away with a four-run victory, but for much of the night at the Wankhede Stadium, Nepal looked capable of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in T20 World Cup history.
In a match that went right down to the final delivery, Nepal chased fearlessly, pushed England to the edge, and earned global respect despite falling just short. England finished with 184/7, while Nepal’s spirited reply ended at 180/9, making this encounter one of the most thrilling contests of the tournament so far.
Match Summary: Nepal vs England T20 World Cup 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Nepal vs England |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Match No. | 5 |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Toss | England won, chose to bat |
| England Score | 184/7 (20 overs) |
| Nepal Score | 180/9 (20 overs) |
| Result | England won by 4 runs |
England’s Decision to Bat First Pays Off – Barely
On a surface known for high scoring and short boundaries, England captain Jos Buttler had no hesitation in choosing to bat first. The pitch looked ideal for stroke play, and England aimed to post a total that would put Nepal under pressure.
However, Nepal’s bowlers had other ideas.
England’s Top Order Stumbles Early
England’s innings got off to a shaky start when Phil Salt was dismissed cheaply in the second over with the scoreboard reading just 5 runs. Nepal’s disciplined opening spell restricted England’s trademark aggression.
Jos Buttler attempted to counter the pressure with an attacking approach, finding the boundary regularly. But his stay was cut short in the fifth over, as he departed after scoring 26 runs off 17 balls, leaving England two wickets down inside the powerplay.
For a brief period, Nepal sensed an opening.
Bethell and Brook Rebuild with Authority
The turning point of England’s innings came through a confident partnership between Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook. Bethell, in particular, impressed with his fearless stroke play, targeting both pace and spin with equal ease.
Brook complemented him perfectly, rotating strike and accelerating when required. Their partnership steadied England’s innings and then shifted momentum decisively in favour of the former champions.
Both batters reached well-constructed half-centuries, ensuring England recovered strongly from early setbacks.
Nepal vs England T20 Scorecard – England Batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jos Buttler | 26 | 17 | 3 | 1 |
| Jacob Bethell | 58 | 34 | 6 | 2 |
| Tom Banton | 14 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Harry Brook | 55 | 32 | 5 | 3 |
| Sam Curran | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Will Jacks | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Extras | 11 | — | — | — |
| Total | 184/7 | 20 overs | — | — |
Nepal’s Bowlers Prevent a Bigger Total
Nepal’s bowling attack showed maturity and tactical awareness, preventing England from crossing the 200-run mark.
Nepal Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 4 | 29 | 2 |
| Nandan Yadav | 4 | 34 | 2 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | 4 | 36 | 1 |
| Sher Malla | 4 | 41 | 1 |
| Karan KC | 2 | 21 | 0 |
Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav were the standout performers, striking at crucial moments and keeping England under check.
Nepal’s Chase Begins with Intent
Chasing 185, Nepal showed no fear against England’s experienced bowling lineup. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh started positively, finding boundaries early and making full use of the powerplay.
The first breakthrough came in the fourth over when Aasif Sheikh was dismissed with Nepal on 37. Bhurtel soon followed at 42, but Nepal remained well ahead of the required run rate.
Rohit Paudel Leads from the Front
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel played a composed and responsible innings, anchoring the chase alongside Dipendra Singh Airee. The duo built a crucial partnership that took Nepal past 100 runs by the 12th over, keeping the required rate under control.
Just when Nepal appeared firmly in command, England struck twice in quick succession. Dipendra Singh was dismissed in the 15th over at 124, followed by Paudel in the 16th over with Nepal at 126.
The momentum briefly shifted back to England.
Lokesh Bam Ignites Late Drama
What followed was a thrilling late assault led by Lokesh Bam. Showing remarkable composure, he took on England’s fastest bowler Jofra Archer, smashing two massive sixes in the 18th over.
Suddenly, Nepal needed 24 runs from the final two overs, and belief surged among players and fans alike.
Final Two Overs: Ball-by-Ball Tension
19th Over (Luke Wood)
- Boundary on the first ball
- Two consecutive wides
- Another four from Lokesh Bam
- Gulshan Jha bowled on the final delivery
Runs required after 19 overs: 10 from 6 balls
20th Over (Sam Curran)
- Dot ball
- Single
- Single
- Two runs
- Dot ball
- Final ball: single
Nepal needed six runs off the last ball, but could manage only one. England held on to win by four runs.
Nepal vs England T20 Scorecard – Nepal Batting
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel | 21 | 14 |
| Aasif Sheikh | 18 | 12 |
| Rohit Paudel | 36 | 29 |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | 32 | 20 |
| Aarif Sheikh | 14 | 11 |
| Lokesh Bam | 38* | 22 |
| Gulshan Jha | 7 | 5 |
| Extras | 14 | — |
| Total | 180/9 | 20 overs |
England Bowling Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Curran | 4 | 32 | 1 |
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 41 | 1 |
| Luke Wood | 4 | 38 | 2 |
| Adil Rashid | 4 | 29 | 2 |
| Liam Dawson | 4 | 31 | 1 |
Playing XIs
England Playing XI
Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood
Nepal Playing XI
Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sher Malla
What This Match Means Going Forward
The Nepal vs England T20 scorecard may show England collecting two crucial points, but the performance tells a deeper story. Nepal proved they can challenge elite teams on the biggest stage, while England were exposed to pressure situations they will need to address quickly.
For Nepal, this narrow loss will be remembered as a landmark moment — evidence that they belong at the top level of T20 cricket.
Conclusion
This unforgettable clash at Wankhede will go down as one of the most competitive matches of the T20 World Cup 2026. The Nepal vs England T20 scorecard reflects a contest decided by fine margins, nerve, and execution under pressure.
England survived.
Nepal earned global admiration.
And cricket fans witnessed a classic that will be talked about long after the tournament ends.
