Photo: Collected

MUMBAI, India, Feb 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook scored 
quick fifties but Nepal took regular wickets as England made 184-7 on Sunday 
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.

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.