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England (184/7) fight from the brink to avoid a major shock and beat an inspired Nepal (180/6) by 4 runs
- Thread starter BouncerGuy
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In 2023, Punjab Kings purchased sam curran for 18.50 crores
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England deny Nepal in final-ball thriller at World Cup
T20 World Cup, Group C, Mumbai
England 184-7 (20 overs): Bethell 55 (35), Brook 53 (32)
Nepal 180-6 (20 overs): Airee 44 (29), Lokesh 39* (20); Dawson 2-21
England won by four runs
England fought from the brink to avoid a major shock and beat an inspired Nepal by four runs in their opening match of the T20 World Cup in Mumbai.
A month on from the conclusion of their Ashes defeat, England needed Sam Curran to defend 10 from the last over to deny Nepal the biggest win in their cricketing history and save his side from more misery.
The brilliant Lokesh Bam needed to hit the last ball for six to secure victory but only managed one.
Lokesh, who finished on 39 not out from 20 balls, dropped to his haunches at the finish as England's players shook his hand to congratulate his efforts.
He had looked to be taking his side to victory when he struck two sixes to take Jofra Archer for 22 in the 18th over before striking Luke Wood for another two fours in the 19th.
But England hung on - the recently-recalled Curran finding yorkers under pressure at the death.
It means head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook begin their World Cup without the ignominy of overseeing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
They have three days before their next match against West Indies on Wednesday at the same ground.
Relieved England survive
England's relief was obvious at the end. There was no wild celebration. They had pulled it back from the brink.
Despite all that has happened this winter, they came into this World Cup among the favourites having won 10 of their past 11 T20s.
Had Curran not salvaged the victory, everything – McCullum's future in particular - would have come under the microscope again.
That is pushed back for another day. England must also be praised for not wilting where other England sides have before.
Credit must also go to Will Jacks, who struck three important sixes at the death in England's 184-7, and Liam Dawson, who took 2-21 from his four overs in his first World Cup match aged 35.
How Curran rescued England
Curran already appeared to have swung the momentum towards England once.
After Nepal reached 124-2, his slower ball stopped Dipendra Singh Airee on 44 as the right-hander was caught at deep over. Rohit Paudel was dismissed by Dawson for 39 in the next over.
But England's experienced bowlers of Archer and Adil Rashid, who conceded 42 from three overs, struggled, leaving Curran to bowl at the last.
He did not concede a boundary in the final over, mixing his pace and bowling predominately full.
He was dropped by England before being recalled at the end of last summer but delivered when needed most.
Nepal a real threat at this World Cup
Nepal's players completed a lap of honour in front of their deflated supporters at the end.
Though they have been tipped to cause problems at this World Cup, having beaten West Indies over three matches last year, they have never beaten a major nation on the world stage.
They were excellent with the ball too - leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane the pick with 1-25, including the wicket of Tom Banton.
Off-spinner Sher Malla had Phil Salt caught off a top edge with his first ball in international cricket and Airee also took two wickets with his off-spin in a fine all-round performance.
Jacob Bethell made an entertaining 55 and Harry Brook a well-placed 53 for England but Nepal's batting was on a par as they swept and scurried.
On this evidence, and given they play all four matches in Mumbai, they have a real shot at progressing from this group.
Babeikh
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Was gutted for Nepal in the end. Good show by them.
sweep_shot
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I wouldn't be surprised if Nepal beat West Indies.
Nepal beat West Indies 2-1 a few months ago.
Nepal beat West Indies 2-1 a few months ago.
jnaveen1980
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All teams had a scare. It is very good for cricket.
RedwoodOriginal
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Nepal are unlucky they don't get to play Bangladesh
Would have beaten them
They nearly beat them last time too
Would have beaten them
They nearly beat them last time too
shah9425
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Tough luck for Nepal
sweep_shot
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LOL. You are being Paul van Meekeren here.
Unless Nepal actually beat Bangladesh, it is just a hypothesis.
Last time they faced each other, Nepal got bundled out for 85. They couldn't pick Fizz at all. Fizz bowled a maiden at the death.
Bangladesh would also prefer to face Nepal instead of teams like NZ, South Africa etc.
RedwoodOriginal
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Bangladesh losing to a minnow is nothing new. They are not a good T20I team by any stretch of the imagination, so it's not too far-fetched to think they could lose to a team like Nepal.LOL. You are being Paul van Meekeren here.
Unless Nepal actually beat Bangladesh, it is just a hypothesis.
Last time they faced each other, Nepal got bundled out for 85. They couldn't pick Fizz at all. Fizz bowled a maiden at the death.
Bangladesh would also prefer to face Nepal instead of teams like NZ, South Africa etc.
sweep_shot
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In T20, minnows often beat big teams. Namibia beat SL, Uganda beat Zimbabwe, UAE beat NZ, Nepal beat Windies, USA beat Pakistan, Netherlands beat South Africa etc. All of these happened recently.
The fact you are singling out Bangladesh shows your bias against Bangladesh. LOL.
Anyway, it's all good. Until Nepal beat Bangladesh, you are just being Paul van Meekeren.
Bangladesh would love Nepal to be overconfident and would love Nepal in the same group. It is generally 2 easy points.
RedwoodOriginal
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I'm sorry you feel that way but I'm just calling it like it is. Bangladesh are a poor T20 team and eventhough they would have been favorites going into a match against Nepal it's not at all surprising to think that a spirited Nepal side on top of their game could have beaten them. Bangladesh have lost T20I series to USA and UAE in the past year. They lost to Netherlands at the last ODI World Cup. They lost a T20I to Ireland a few months ago. And this is just the recent past.In T20, minnows often beat big teams. Namibia beat SL, Uganda beat Zimbabwe, UAE beat NZ, Nepal beat Windies, USA beat Pakistan, Netherlands beat South Africa etc. All of these happened recently.
The fact you are singling out Bangladesh shows your bias against Bangladesh. LOL.
Anyway, it's all good. Until Nepal beat Bangladesh, you are just being Paul van Meekeren.
Bangladesh would love Nepal to be overconfident and would love Nepal in the same group. It is generally 2 easy points.
sweep_shot
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Last 3 years have shown Nepal is a bowling-heavy team.
They generally don't win if they are chasing. In 2024 World T20, they lost to South Africa just by 1 run. So close yet so far.
All of their famous wins and famous performances happened when they were defending totals. A bit like Afghanistan I guess.
They generally don't win if they are chasing. In 2024 World T20, they lost to South Africa just by 1 run. So close yet so far.
All of their famous wins and famous performances happened when they were defending totals. A bit like Afghanistan I guess.
Nikhil_cric
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There are no guarantees. But considering how even lower ranked teams like UAE and US have beaten Bangladesh in bilateral series , it's definitely plausible that Nepal can overcome Bangladesh in a series.
RedwoodOriginal
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What surprises me is how Nepal miss out on qualification for the Asia Cup, while that team of diaspora desi uncles Hong Kong don't.
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DeadlyVenom
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They have beaten Windies too right.
The gap isn't that big in T20. If more full members played associates in bilateral T20 we would see upsets. It's just that Bangladesh has probably played the associates more.
Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands and US can be in the mix against most non big 3 sides.
Mas-LFC
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Would, could’ve, shouldve. Is all subjective Sir. They never have. Thats facts.
Mas-LFC
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It was a good wicket. England were looking good for near 200 then slowed down a bit but Jacks finished it very well. Nepal batted well defo, it can happen in t20s the gap had closed between associates and bigger team.
Nepal doesnt have a single tall 6ft pacer who can bowl 140clicks. A nation whose people grow around big mountains seem extremely short or lacking of producing real pacers and stronger players.
sweep_shot
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Nepal's strength is their spin attack. They have a very good spin attack.
Pacers aren't anything special. Even batters are average.
RedwoodOriginal
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But a bunch of other associates have beaten Bangladesh. Thats objective facts.
sweep_shot
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Correct.
Nepal have faced BD twice. Lost both times.
Last time Nepal played BD, Nepal got bundled out for 85. Fizz's figure was 4-1-7-3. Fizz bowled a maiden at the death over. They couldn't pick Fizz at all.
Anyway, people who don't like Bangladesh are likely to come up with all sorts of fantasies, theories, hypothesis, and predictions. We all have our biases I guess.
Mas-LFC
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The Bakts.Correct.
Nepal have faced BD twice. Lost both times.
Last time Nepal played BD, Nepal got bundled out for 85. Fizz's figure was 4-1-7-3. Fizz bowled a maiden at the death over. They couldn't pick Fizz at all.
Anyway, people who don't like Bangladesh are likely to come up with all sorts of fantasies, theories, hypothesis, and predictions. We all have our biases I guess.
Anything to make themselves feel good by trying to put BD cricket down.
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