Kathmandu: Nepal suffered a heartbreaking four-run defeat against England in their opening match of the ICC T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Chasing a challenging target of 185 runs, Nepal put up a spirited fight but fell just short, scoring 180 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Needing 10 runs in the final over, Nepal could manage only five, narrowly missing out on a historic win.

Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airi top-scored with 44 runs, while captain Rohit Poudel and Lokesh Bam contributed 39 runs each. Despite the strong middle-order effort, Nepal could not cross the line, earning praise for their fighting performance.

Earlier, England, after winning the toss and batting first, posted 184 runs for seven wickets. Jacob Bethell and captain Harry Brooke struck half-centuries, while Will Jacks added a quick unbeaten 39. For Nepal, Nandan Yadav and Dipendra Singh Airi claimed two wickets each, with Sher Malla and Sandeep Lamichhane taking one apiece.

The match also saw several milestones for Nepal. The opening pair registered the highest first-wicket partnership for Nepal in T20s with 37 runs, while Dipendra Singh Airi became Nepal’s highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history. Rohit Poudel also set a record by captaining Nepal in the most T20 World Cup matches.

Despite the loss, Nepal’s strong performance against two-time champions England has raised hopes of an impressive campaign ahead in Group C, which also includes Italy, Scotland and the West Indies.