So Close, Yet So Far: Nepal’s Heartbreaking Thriller Against England

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai felt more like Kathmandu yesterday as thousands of passionate Nepali fans witnessed a near-miracle. In their opening match of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Nepal came agonizingly close to an upset for the ages, falling just 4 runs short against the two-time champions, England.

Match Summary: A Fight to the Last Ball

England set a formidable target of 185 runs, powered by half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (55) and captain Harry Brook (53). Nepal’s bowlers, however, showed they belonged on the big stage:

• Early Breakthroughs: Debutant Sher Malla stunned the crowd by dismissing Phil Salt on his very first ball.

• Tight Bowling: Nandan Yadav claimed the massive wicket of Jos Buttler (26), while Sandeep Lamichhane kept the pressure high in the middle overs.

The Chase: Nepal’s response was fearless. Skipper Rohit Paudel (39) and Dipendra Singh Airee (44) anchored a brilliant 82-run partnership that took the fight to England’s elite bowling attack. In the final overs, Lokesh Bam played a heroic cameo (39* off 20 balls), smashing two sixes off Jofra Archer to bring Nepal within touching distance.

Needing 10 runs off the final over, Nepal faced a composed Sam Curran, who restricted them to just 5 runs, leaving Nepal at 180/6. Despite the loss, the performance has sent a clear message to the cricketing world: Nepal is no longer just “participating”—they are competing to win.

What’s Ahead for the Rhinos?

Nepal is currently in Group C, and with the narrow margin of defeat, their Net Run Rate (NRR) remains healthy, keeping their hopes for a Super 8 qualification very much alive.

Remaining Group Stage Fixtures (Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai):

• Feb 12 (Thursday): vs Italy (3:15 PM NST) – A must-win game where Nepal will be the heavy favorites.

• Feb 15 (Sunday): vs West Indies (11:15 AM NST) – A high-stakes clash against the Caribbean giants.

• Feb 17 (Tuesday): vs Scotland (7:15 PM NST) – Likely the decisive match for the second spot in Group C.

The Road to the Super 8

To advance, Nepal likely needs to win at least two of their remaining three matches. If they can maintain the intensity shown against England, the “Rhinos” have a genuine chance to make history and progress past the group stage for the first time.