Nepal's Bowlers Start Strong Against England in T20 World Cup

In the T20 World Cup, Nepal's bowlers did very well at the start of the game against England. They took important wickets early on. Jacob Bethell played well to help England recover.
By Newsroom | Cricket, T20 World Cup |

Early Wickets Shake England's Innings in T20 World Cup Match Against Nepal

England, the favorites in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Nepal, experienced a challenging start after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Nepal's bowlers, particularly Sandeep Lamichhane and debutant Sher Malla, made an immediate impact, taking wickets within their opening overs. This led to England being in a precarious position, described as "wobbling" and having lost "one wicket too many," despite the presence of key players like Jos Buttler and Harry Brook. The Wankhede Stadium crowd, supporting Nepal, reacted with significant enthusiasm to the early success.

England v Nepal: Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – live updates - 1

Match Details and Squads

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 fixture between England and Nepal took place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

England v Nepal: Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – live updates - 2

  • England Squad: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.

  • Nepal Squad: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sher Malla. (Note: Article 3 lists a more extensive Nepal squad including Sompal Kami, Sundeep Jora, Basir Ahamad, and Lalit Rajbanshi, indicating potential squad variations or extended lists.)

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Nepal captain Rohit Paudel indicated that the team would have preferred to bowl first had they won the toss.

England v Nepal: Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – live updates - 3

Key Events and Performances

The early overs of England's batting innings were marked by significant wicket-taking by Nepal:

England v Nepal: Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – live updates - 4

  • Phil Salt was out caught off Sandeep Lamichhane and bowled by Sher Malla for 1 run. This was Malla's first ball in international cricket, and he managed to dismiss Salt.

  • Tom Banton was dismissed leg before wicket (lbw) off Sandeep Lamichhane's first ball for 2 runs.

  • Jos Buttler was caught off the bowling of Nandan Yadav, according to BBC Sport, or Aasif off Yadav, according to other reports.

By the end of the 6th over, England's score was 57 for 3, with Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook at the crease. Despite the early wickets, Jacob Bethell showed resilience, scoring runs and keeping England in the game. Notably, Sher Malla also dropped a catch off his bowling.

Nepal's Bowlers Shine in Early Stages

Nepal's bowling attack, particularly Sandeep Lamichhane and Sher Malla, demonstrated effectiveness in unsettling England's top order.

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  • Sher Malla's Debut Impact: Sher Malla made a notable entry into international cricket by taking a wicket with his very first ball, dismissing Phil Salt. Reports indicate three Nepalese players took a wicket within their first three balls, with two achieving this with their very first delivery.

  • Sandeep Lamichhane's Contribution: Lamichhane also made an immediate impact, taking a wicket with his first ball of the match, contributing to England's struggle.

  • Bowling Effectiveness: The "element of surprise" was cited as a factor benefiting Nepal.

England's Response and Player Contributions

While England lost early wickets, Jacob Bethell emerged as a key player in stabilizing the innings.

  • Bethell's Resilience: Jacob Bethell was noted as "not out" and actively scoring runs, including fours and a six off Sher Malla's bowling. His performance was crucial in preventing further immediate collapse after the initial dismissals.

  • Early Partnership Concern: Despite Bethell's efforts, England was described as having lost "one wicket too many" in the initial phase, indicating a concern about the overall batting performance beyond individual scores.

Analysis of the Opening Overs

The initial overs presented a significant challenge for England, highlighting Nepal's effective strategy and execution.

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  • Nepal's Surprise Factor: The "lively Nepal" and the "element of surprise" were mentioned as contributing to England's difficulties. The quick wickets taken by debutant Sher Malla and the impact of Sandeep Lamichhane created immediate pressure.

  • England's Vulnerability: The fall of early wickets, including Salt, Banton, and Buttler, put England in a vulnerable position. The attempt by Banton to play a reverse sweep on his first ball and subsequently being given out lbw illustrates the risky approach some batters took under pressure.

Conclusion and Next Steps

England faced a strong challenge from Nepal in the initial phase of their T20 World Cup 2026 match. Nepal's bowlers, Sandeep Lamichhane and Sher Malla, were instrumental in creating early pressure by taking wickets, including Sher Malla's dismissal of Phil Salt on his international debut. Despite losing three wickets within the powerplay, Jacob Bethell showed resilience, attempting to anchor the England innings. The outcome of the match will depend on how England rebuilds its innings and whether Nepal can maintain its bowling effectiveness. Further updates are required to determine the final score and the progression of the game.

Sources Used

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who took the first wicket for Nepal?
Sher Malla took the first wicket for Nepal, getting Phil Salt out on his very first ball in international cricket.
Q: How did England do at the start of the game?
England lost three important wickets early in their batting innings.
Q: Who played well for England?
Jacob Bethell played well and scored runs to help England after they lost early wickets.
Q: Where was the match played?
The match was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.