Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook scored quick fifties but Nepal took regular wickets as England were restricted to 184-7 in their opening Group C match of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai.
It could have been so much better for the Nepalis but Will Jacks smashed three spectacular sixes off the final over from Karan KC.
The all-rounder’s late cameo of 39 not out off 18 balls took England to the highest total of the tournament so far and left Nepal with a target of 185 to pull off a huge upset.
Skipper Brook won the toss and elected to bat on the same pitch that had been deployed for the India-USA clash the previous night.
Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel said he would have bowled anyway and his spin-heavy attack successfully squeezed the England batters for most of the 20 overs until the late onslaught from Jacks.
Opener Phil Salt perished off the first ball from Sher Malla, top-edging the spinner to short fine leg.
It brought Bethell to the crease and the left-hander immediately made a statement with two fours and a six off the same Malla over.
Jos Buttler made a quickfire 26 before he edged a lifting ball from Nandan Yadav to wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh.
Bethell was looking imperious and, despite losing Tom Banton cheaply, he reached his fifty off 28 balls with two consecutive towering sixes.
Joined by Brook at 57-3, the pair took the total past the hundred mark in the 12th over.
Bethell departed for 55 to end a 71-run partnership after being caught at deep mid-on attempting another big blow. He hit four sixes and four fours.
Sam Curran joined Brooks but did not last long, bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee for two and England were 137-5 in the 16th over.
Brook brought up his fifty off 31 balls with a third six but was caught in the deep off the next delivery and England were 157-6 with 10 balls remaining before Jacks’s late charge.
For Nepal, Airee with 2-23 and Yadav, who took 2-25, were the pick of the bowlers.
- Agencies
