T20 World Cup: England survive Nepal scare in thriller of final ball

England fought back 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 after their Ashes defeat ended, England needed Sam Curran to defend 10 from the last over to deny Nepal the biggest win in their cricketing history and save his team from further misery.

The in-form Lokesh Bam needed to hit the final ball for a six to secure victory but could only manage one.

Lokesh, who finished with 39 not out from 20 balls, fell to his knees at the end as the England player shook hands with him to congratulate his efforts.

He looked to lead his team to victory when he scored twice to take Jofra Archer for 22 in the 18th over before hitting Lock Wood for two more fours in the 19th over.

But England held out – with the recently recalled Curran finding New Yorkers under pressure at the death.

It means coach Brendon McCullum and captain Harry Brook will start the World Cup without feeling ashamed of overseeing one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.

They have three days to go before their next match against West Indies on Wednesday at the same ground.

England’s relief was evident at the end. There was no wild celebration. They succeeded in pulling her back from the brink.

Despite everything that has happened this winter, they enter this World Cup among the favorites having won 10 of the last 11 T20 tournaments.

If Curran had not been able to salvage the victory, everything – and McCullum’s future in particular – would have been under the microscope once again.

This has been postponed for another day. England should also be commended for not withering away as other English teams have done before.

We must also pay tribute to Will Jacks, who scored a crucial hat-trick in England’s 184-7 win, and Liam Dawson, who took 2-21 from his four overs in his first World Cup match at the age of 35.