Mumbai, Feb 8 (UNI) Nepal came close to creating a big upset in the T20 World Cup, but England held their nerve in the final over to emerge victorious at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday.
Batting first, England posted a solid 184 for seven. Nepal chased the target with gusto but could only manage 180 for six.
In the last over, Nepal needed ten runs for victory, but all-rounder Sam Curran bowled a brilliant last over and restricted Nepal to just five runs.
Nepal had scored 14 runs in the 19th over, raising hopes of an upset win.
For England, Jacob Bethell top-scored with 55 and captain Harry Brooke made 53, while Will Jacks contributed a vital unbeaten 39 runs.
Dipendra Singh Airee was the pick of the Nepal bowlers, picking two wickets for 23 runs.
Chasing 185, Nepal lost two wickets with the score at 42.
Captain Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee then steadied the innings. Airee had a good match with the ball as well as he top scored with 44 runs, and was well supported by skipper Rohit Paudel (39) for a 82-run third wicket partnership.
The partnership was broken as Airee was caught by Tom Banton off Sam Curran in the 15th over.
In the very next over, Liam Dawson dismissed skipper Rohit Paudel, who struck 39 off 34 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. Aarif Sheikh was dismissed for 10.
After this, Lokesh Bam came in to bat and started scoring at a brisk pace, raising hopes of victory.
Luke Wood, who came in for some stick by the Nepal batsmen in the 19th over gave his team some relief, by seeing the back of Gulshan Jha (1) in the last ball of the over.
Nepal needed a six off the last ball of the match to win but Curran managed just one run.
Lokesh Bam remained unbeaten on a 20-ball 30.
England’s Will Jacks (39 not out and one wicket) was awarded the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance.
For England, Liam Dawson took two wickets. Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Will Jacks and Luke Wood each dismissed a batsman.
Earlier, Nepal won the toss and elected to bowl first.
