In a dramatic encounter at Wankhede Stadium on February 8, 2026, England narrowly avoided one of the biggest upsets in cricket history by defeating Nepal by just 4 runs. England posted a competitive total of 184/7, led by half-centuries from Jacob Bethell (55) and Harry Brook (53). However, Nepal's spirited chase took the game to the very last ball, finishing at 180/6. 

Nepal’s pursuit was spearheaded by Dipendra Singh Airee, who scored a valiant 44, and Kushal Paudel, who added 39. The match reached a fever pitch in the final over, with Nepal needing 13 runs for victory. England's bowlers managed to hold their nerve under intense pressure, restricting the associate nation just short of a historic win that would have sent shockwaves through the tournament. 

The result keeps England's campaign on track as they prepare to face the West Indies on February 11. Despite the win, the narrow margin has raised questions about England's bowling consistency against lower-ranked teams. For Nepal, the performance earned them widespread respect and proved they are a formidable competitor on the world stage as they look forward to their next match against Italy.