Summary

  • Nepal fall just short after failing to hit final ball for six - report

  • Airee (44), Paudel (39) & Bam (39*) star for Nepal

  • England rally late on to reach 184-7 - Jacks hitting 39* off 18

  • Bethell (55) and Brook (53) rescue England from 57-3

  • T20 World Cup, Group C

  • Seifert half-century helps NZ beat Afghanistan

Have your say on the Men's T20 World Cup

  1. Follow Ireland v Sri Lanka...published at 13:35 GMT 8 February

    Media caption,

    Bethell hits quick-fire 50 for England

    Media caption,

    Curran removes Airee to steady England nerves

    Media caption,

    Salt takes good catch to end Paudel innings

    Well, that was an absolute thriller wasn't it? Scroll down to read all of the post-match reaction and analysis as England avoid a major upset against Nepal.

    Matthew Henry has tried to make sense of it all in his match report...

    That's not the end of our coverage of the T20 World Cup today. Not by a long shot.

    You can follow ball-by-ball coverage - including coverage on TMS - of Ireland v Sri Lanka.

    We have plenty of other cricket stories to get your teeth into as well:

  2. 'Hats off to Nepal...'published at 13:33 GMT 8 February

    England players smile as they walk offImage source, Getty Images
    Lokesh Bam sits on his haunches after defeat to EnglandImage source, Getty Images

    England captain Harry Brook: "It wasn't easy at all but thankfully we got over the line. They played extremely well. Not many teams take Adil Rashid down the way they did - they played against him outstandingly and put us in a tricky situation for quite a few occasions."

    On whether 184 was a good score: "I thought we were in a good position to defend that. I didn't think it would go as close as that. Hats off to the Nepalese team they played extremely well.

    "Beth [Jacob Bethell] played outstanding, the way he was rocking back and smacking the spinners into the stands was nice to watch. The way Jacksy [Will Jacks] just slipped into his role at number seven. He hasn't done much of it but the way he batted at the end there won us the game."

    On what he said at the drinks break late in Nepal's innings: "I just said we put two or three wickets on this and it all changes. We didn't quite get those rewards but we stuck to our guns."

    On Adil Rashid: "We have so many options out there. I don't think Sam [Curran] bowled until a lot later on than usual. It wasn't ideal, Rash getting a little bit of tap. It's not often he doesn't bowl four overs. I'm sure he'll bounce back better."

    On Sam Curran: "Unbelievable. We were both fairly calm out there. He executed outstandingly."

  3. 'Proud of the team...'published at 13:25 GMT 8 February

    Rohit PaudelImage source, Getty Images

    Nepal captain Rohit Paudel: "Disappointment is there but at the same time, I'm very proud of the team. That takes a lot of appreciation. When we step out today in the ground, the only message to the group was we'll give 110% and they gave all they had. I'm very proud of them.

    "We had belief when we came in this World Cup. We didn't come here to participate, we wanted to compete and we had that belief in the group that we can beat any of the sides if we play our best brand of cricket. I thought today we played our best brand of cricket.

    "If you see the result, it didn't go our way but if you look effort-wise, I give it 100% on fielding, bowling and batting.

    "I think we can improve [our death bowling]. England were also struggling but Sam Curran bowled really well. It's hard for bowlers in death overs to bowl and execute yorkers but at the same time, we'll improve there."

    On targeting Adil Rashid: "It was not a plan to take on Adil Rashid but it happened and we thought we could take him on today and it went good for us."

    On facing Italy next: "We will not take any of the teams lightly. We need to be on 100%."

  4. Postpublished at 13:19 GMT 8 February

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Sam Curran's beehive from the final two oversImage source, CricViz

    That was outstanding holding of nerve from Sam Curran bowling at the death. Opting to keep it simple - yorkers, pace on at the base of the stumps.

    Harry Brook will be so grateful for that. It would be so easy for minds to digress towards headlines. Brook, Jos Buttler, and Curran gave that element of calm. England will be pleased to have escaped that.

  5. Postpublished at 13:18 GMT 8 February

    Prakash Wakankar
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Nepal fansImage source, Getty Images

    Phenomenal game of cricket. Relief for England. Heartbreak for Nepal.

    This is what this World Cup is about, giving the opportunity and yet again we're seeing that when the Associate nations are given that platform, the development they're getting, they need more opportunities which will make the game of cricket richer.

  6. 'Pushed us right to the edge...'published at 13:16 GMT 8 February

    Will JacksImage source, Getty Images

    Player of the match Will Jacks: "Full credit to Nepal. They were brilliant. The pitch was tricky when we batted and they dug in well and took it close there."

    On his unbeaten 39 (18): "Nice to spend some time in the middle. I've been short on that in the last month or so. It was about keeping it simple, letting the ball come and not over-hitting it. It was very tough to start."

    On Nepal choosing pace in the final over, which cost 21 runs: "I saw they were debating [pace or spin]. The helmet ran out and went off. In hindsight, they might have done that [spin]. They pushed us right to the edge."

    On England's spin bowling all-rounders: "I think if the surfaces are going to continue to be like that, it will be crucial going forward. Daws [Liam Dawon] was brilliant today. Having that adaptability will leave us in good stead."

  7. Postpublished at 13:13 GMT 8 February

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    My goodness me. It has been thrilling and how big do those runs scored by Will Jacks at the back end of England's innings look now?

    Sam Curran has done his captain a monstrous favour.

    Nepal lost to South Africa by one run at the last World Cup. They've lost by another single-figure margin here.

  8. Postpublished at 13:13 GMT 8 February

    England all-rounder Will Jacks is named as the player of the match for his 39* off 18 balls and 1-17 with the ball.

    We'll have his thought during the post-match presentations.

  9. How's stat?!published at 13:10 GMT 8 February

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Nepal once again finish agonisingly close to their maiden T20 World Cup win over a full member - during the 2024 T20 World Cup they lost by one run to South Africa and 21 runs to Bangladesh.

  10. Postpublished at 13:10 GMT 8 February

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    A lot of credit to Nepal. The way they've played, the crowd has been outstanding. They'll take confidence but they'll be disappointed they didn't quite have the firepower to get over the line.

  11. Postpublished at 13:09 GMT 8 February

    Phew. Take a breath.

    Absolutely incredible effort by Nepal when you compare the resources at their disposal compared to England's.

    The ICC should take note. If ever a nation deserved full membership it's Nepal.

  12. Postpublished at 13:07 GMT 8 February

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    CurranImage source, Getty Images

    It was not as relaxed as it could have been but immense credit to Sam Curran for bowling the over England needed him to.

  13. champagne moment

    England win by four runspublished at 13:04 GMT 8 February

    EnglandImage source, Getty Images

    A single off the final ball as Sam Curran holds his nerve.

    Lokesh Bam cannot get any elevation at all to a full delivery from the England left-arm seamer and he biffs it to the fielder at cover on the boundary.

    Huge sighs of relief for England more than anything else.

  14. Nep 179-6published at 19.5 overs

    Final ball. Six needed. Lokesh Bam on strike.

    A big debate between Jos Buttler, Harry Brook and Sam Curran before it is bowled.

  15. Postpublished at 13:03 GMT 8 February

    Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    He turns down the single. It's a wise decision.

    If Curran nails it here, England get over the line.

  16. Nep 179-6published at 19.5 overs

    Sam Curran bounds in. Lokesh Bam picks up a couple.

    Six needed off the final ball.

  17. Postpublished at 13:01 GMT 8 February

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Nepal would take anything. Off someone's bum, off a helmet. Six runs, however they come.

  18. Nep 179-6published at 19.4 overs

    Sam Curran chews the fat with Harry Brook with Lokesh Bam on strike.

    Bam, pink handle on his bat, heaves across the line and whips it through mid-wicket for a couple.

    Six from two balls.

  19. Nep 177-6published at 19.3 overs

    Karan KC bunts Sam Curran down the ground for one.

    Eight from three for Nepal.

  20. Postpublished at 12:59 GMT 8 February

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Excellent from Curran. Good execution and calm under pressure. You never feel as though he's panicking. You can never tell.

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