England Stumble Against Nepal in T20 World Cup

In a surprising twist during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, former champions England found themselves in trouble against associate member side Nepal. The fifth match of the tournament, held at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium, saw England’s batting line-up struggle against disciplined Nepalese bowling.

Winning the toss, England opted to bat first, hoping to post a competitive total. The innings began with high intent, as opener Jos Buttler launched an aggressive assault. In just 15 balls, Buttler scored 26 runs, striking five boundaries, before being dismissed in the fourth over. His early departure, however, triggered a collapse that saw the English top order struggle to build momentum.

Fellow opener Phil Salt’s innings ended almost immediately after Buttler’s, contributing just 2 runs from 2 balls. By the time England had lost their first two wickets, they had managed only 57 runs, signalling an unexpected challenge against Nepal’s disciplined bowlers.

Jacob Bethell, coming in at number three, tried to steady the innings with an entertaining knock. Facing 35 deliveries, Bethell struck four fours and four sixes to compile 55 runs. His dismissal at the team total of 128 marked another setback, followed closely by Sam Curran, who added a mere 2 runs from 8 balls.

By the end of the 17th over, England had lost five wickets for just 139 runs, leaving them in a precarious position with the Nepalese bowlers dominating the middle overs. Analysts noted that England’s failure to convert strong starts into substantial partnerships could prove costly in the chase.

England’s Top-Order Collapse Against Nepal – T20 World Cup 2026

The innings highlighted England’s vulnerability against lower-ranked teams when early wickets tumble. With only three overs remaining in their innings at the 17-over mark, the pressure now shifts to England’s lower order to accelerate and set a defendable total against a spirited Nepalese side eager to make history.

Nepal, in pursuit of a historic upset, will look to maintain their disciplined approach and exploit England’s fragile middle order. The match promises to be a fascinating test of resilience and strategy in the T20 World Cup.