Sam Curran Holds Nerve Defending Final Over Under Pressure

Cricket fans witnessed an absolute nail-biter at the Wankhede Stadium as England narrowly escaped a historic upset, defeating a spirited Nepal side by just four runs in their T20 World Cup opener. What looked like a routine win for the defending champions turned into a high-octane thriller that went down to the very last ball.

England posted a competitive total of 184 for 7, thanks to impressive half-centuries from youngsters Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook. Bethell scored 55 while Brook added 53, setting a challenging target on a batting-friendly surface. However, the Nepali batters came out with intent, refusing to be intimidated by the English pace attack.

Kushal Bhurtel provided a flying start, smashing Jofra Archer for three boundaries early on. This momentum was carried forward by Dependra Singh Airee and Rohit Paudel. The duo stitched together a magnificent partnership of 82 runs off just 54 balls, keeping the chase alive and putting the English bowlers under immense pressure. When both set batters were dismissed in quick succession, it seemed England had regained control.

However, Lokesh Bam had other plans. He launched a stunning counter-attack, hitting boundaries off Sam Curran and launching Archer for huge sixes. His aggression left Nepal needing 10 runs off the final over.

With the game on the line, Sam Curran showcased his experience. Sticking strictly to a plan of bowling yorkers, he denied Bam the room to free his arms. Needing a six off the final delivery to win, Bam could only manage a toe-end shot to deep extra cover.

While England celebrated a relief-filled victory, it was another heart-wrenching finish for Nepal. Fans will recall their similar one-run loss to South Africa in the 2024 tournament. Despite the defeat, Nepal's brave performance in this England vs Nepal T20 World Cup clash has won hearts globally and sent a strong warning to other teams in the group.