The crowd at Wankhede Stadium stood and applauded Nepal after the team almost beat England, losing by only four runs in a very exciting match right down to the last ball of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. This showed the crowd’s respect for how hard Nepal played – really making a two-time champion work for their win in Mumbai.
Nepal’s players went around the field and thanked the fans who had travelled to support them, and the local people in the stands, after the final ball was bowled. It was a good example of how cricket can bring people together to back a team who weren’t expected to do well, but who really tried. The applause wasn’t because the team had lost, but because of the effort they’d put in; the fans were cheering and waving flags as the players responded to the noise, and it was a really clear sign of Nepal – a country which is new to international cricket – being noticed by more and more people.
What happened in the match: England set a hard target of 185
After Nepal let England bat first, England got back on track after a poor start, and finished with 184 for 7. Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook had a partnership of 71 runs, and Will Jacks added speed at the end, scoring 39 from 18 balls and not getting out.
Key moments in the match
This score looked difficult to reach, but not impossible. Nepal’s attempt to get the runs quickly became a tense situation as they were sometimes aggressive, sometimes careful, and kept the match going until the very last overs.
Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee made 82 runs together, which really put Nepal in with a chance. Dipendra’s 44 and Paudel’s careful 39 meant the chase was close, against the experienced England bowlers.
The drama at the end, and the final over which decided the game
Lokesh Bam then started hitting well, leaving Nepal needing 10 runs from the last over. Sam Curran didn’t get nervous, only allowing four runs from the first five balls, and then only one run from the last ball – winning the game for England by four runs.
Adil Rashid’s three overs cost 42 runs and didn’t get him a wicket, giving Nepal an easy time against the spin bowling. However, Sam Curran’s calm final over was the reason there wasn’t a surprising win for Nepal, and instead a close loss.
England’s middle-order getting back into the game – particularly Brook and Bethell’s fifties, and Jacks’ hitting at the end – gave them a total which, in the end, really tested how strong Nepal were, until the last ball.
The best players, and some numbers from the match
For Nepal, Lokesh Bam’s 39 from 20 balls (and not getting out) and Dipendra’s 44 from 29 showed they could get power and good timing in their batting. Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh got the innings going quickly, keeping the momentum going throughout the chase.
England’s bowlers all took wickets during the game. Liam Dawson’s two for 21 slowed Nepal down, and Curran, Wood and Archer all took important wickets at tight times in the game.
What people said, praise on social media, and what Nepal will do next
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel said after the game that his team had come to the tournament to compete, and that the players had given everything they had. He said they believed in themselves, and wanted to get better before their next match against Italy.
Old international players used social media to praise Nepal’s effort, saying how much they believed in themselves and what they could achieve. People said Nepal was one of the new cricket countries which was most promising, and that this performance would help the team grow on the world stage.
Nepal's performance at Wankhede Stadium wasn’t just a narrow defeat; it was an important step forward in the country’s cricket story. The applause from the crowd will give them energy, show they are a good team, and give them new confidence as they prepare for the rest of the tournament.
