MUMBAI, India, CMC – Barbadian Jacob Bethell struck a crucial half-century to help England scrape past Nepal by four runs in a thrilling contest at the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup here on Sunday.
The left-hander belted 55 off 35 balls, with four sixes and four fours in his T20 World Cup debut, as England – one of the pre-tournament favourites – posted 184 for seven in their 20 overs at Wankhede Stadium.
Bethell shared a crucial 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Harry Brook, who made 53 off 32 balls and hit four fours and three sixes, while Player-of-the-Match Will Jacks smashed an unbeaten 39 off 18 balls, with four sixes and one four, to help England finish strongly.
Dipendra Singh Airee (2-23) and Nandan Yadav (2-25) were Nepal’s best bowlers.
Nepal then came close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history before falling agonisingly short at 180 for six.
Knocks of 44 from Airee, 39 from captain Rohit Paudel, and an unbeaten 39 off 20 balls from Lokesh Bam carried them within sight of victory.
But needing 13 runs from nine balls, England’s Sam Curran conceded just five runs from his final over to ensure his side got off to a winning start in the tournament.
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