MUMBAI: Two-times champions England survived a major scare before grinding out a four-run victory against a spirited Nepal in a Group C thriller at the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday.
Captain Harry Brook (53) and number three batter Jacob Bethell (55) struck half-centuries to lift England to 184-7, a total that appeared beyond Nepal’s modest batting resources.
Nepal, however, pushed England to the brink as Lokesh Bam struck an unbeaten 39 off 20 balls before his side closed on 180-6.Electing to bat at the Wankhede Stadium, England stumbled to 57-3 in the seventh over after Sher Malla struck with the first ball of his World Cup debut to remove Phil Salt for one.
The pressure mounted further when Jos Buttler and Tom Banton fell in quick succession.Bethell adapted quickly to the challenging surface and, alongside Brook, steadied the innings with a 71-run partnership from 45 balls.
Bethell reached his 28-ball fifty with consecutive sixes off Kushal Bhurtel but was soon dismissed by the leg-spinner. Brook brought up his half-century by pulling Nandan Yadav before falling immediately after, offering a catch at deep point.Will Jacks provided late impetus with an unbeaten 39 off 18 balls, smashing four sixes, including three in the final over bowled by Karan Chhetri.
In reply, Bhurtel led Nepal’s charge with 29, striking four fours and a six before a soft dismissal handed Jacks a return catch. Dipendra Singh Airee (44) and captain Rohit Paudel (39) kept Nepal in contention with an 82-run stand from 54 balls.
Sam Curran broke the partnership by having Airee caught in the deep, and Paudel soon followed. Bam then reignited Nepal’s hopes by hitting Jofra Archer for back-to-back sixes.
Needing 10 runs from the final over, Nepal fell just short as Bam managed only a single from the last ball, leaving England to escape with a narrow victory.
