Overview:
This win gives England two vital points in Group C and keep them firmly on track for qualification for the next round in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
England edged past Nepal by 4 runs in a tight Group C match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 8 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Nepal put England under pressure early and showed they are not an easy team to beat. Sher Malla struck in the opening overs by dismissing Phil Salt for just 1, forcing England to rebuild before Jos Buttler‘s 26 helped settle the innings. Jacob Bethell then played a well-paced knock of 55 off 35 balls, giving England the stability they needed.
England Captain Harry Brook followed with a composed 53, while Will Jacks added late momentum with an unbeaten 39 runs in 18 balls. Their efforts helped England recover and post a competitive total of 184 for 7.
For Nepal, Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav took 2 wickets each to keep pressure on England batters, while Sandeep Lamichhane bowled a controlled spell of 1/25 in four overs that stopped the rivals from accelerating freely.
Nepal responded with positive intent in the chase right from the start as Kushal Bhurtel scored 29 runs in just 17 balls, and after that, Dipendra Singh led the fight with an aggressive 44 runs, supported well by Rohit Paudel’s 39 runs and Lokesh Bam’s unbeaten 39 runs in 20 balls, which kept the required rate within reach.
England’s bowlers stood up under pressure, with Liam Dawson claiming two crucial wickets in the middle overs and Sam Curran’s great last over allowing England to defend the target and seal a narrow 4-run win in the Group C clash.
Full Scorecard – England vs Nepal ICC T20 World Cup 2026, February 8
England 184 for 7 (Bethell 55, Brook 53, Jacks 39*) beat Nepal 180 for 6 (Airee 44, Bam 39*, Paudel 39, Dawson 2-21) by four runs
Match Highlights & Key Moments
England won the toss and chose to bat on a good Wankhede surface that offered value for shots but also rewarded disciplined bowling. Nepal struck early through Sher Malla, who removed Phil Salt in the powerplay, but England recovered in the middle overs through Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook before Will Jacks’ late hitting lifted the total to 184 for 7.
Nepal stayed in the chase on the batting-friendly pitch through contributions from Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Paudel, and Lokesh Bam. Sam Curran held his nerves and bowled an amazing last over when only 10 runs were needed in 6 balls to give England a win. However, the support Nepal received from their fans, who came in numbers to the stadium, was amazing to see.
Player of the Match
Will Jacks was named the Player of the Match for his all-round contributions, scoring a quick 39 runs, and taking 1 wicket in his two-over spell.
What This Result Means for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
This win gives England two vital points in Group C and keep them firmly on track for qualification for the next round in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. For Nepal, the narrow loss still highlights their growing competitiveness and confidence against top teams.
FAQs – Yesterday’s England vs Nepal ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Q1: Who won yesterday’s England vs Nepal match?
A1: England won by 4 runs against Nepal on February 8, 2026, in Mumbai.
Q2: Who was the Player of the Match?
A2: Will Jacks was named the Player of the Match for his 39 runs and one wicket.
Q3: What was the final score of yesterday’s match?
A3: England vs Nepal.
England 184 for 7 (Bethell 55, Brook 53, Jacks 39*)
Nepal 180 for 6 (Airee 44, Bam 39*, Paudel 39, Dawson 2-21) by four runs
Q4: What’s the next fixture for England vs Nepal in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
A4: England will play against the West Indies on February 11 in Mumbai.
Nepal will play against Italy on February 12 in Mumbai.