इंग्लैंड vs नेपाल, मैच 5, वानखेड़े स्टेडियम, मुम्बई, 08 February 2026 - कमेंट्री

Good start from Sam Curran! He goes fuller and around off, almost in the blockhole, Lokesh Bam looks to go big down the ground but misses. 10 needed off 5 now.

A full toss, on off, Lokesh Bam lofts it towards long off for a single. He is looking for the second but it is not available. 

Gets the yorker in, on middle and leg, Karan KC can only jam it out towards long on for a run. Nepal need 8 runs in 3 balls.

Fuller delivery, on the pads, Lokesh Bam picks it up and whips it wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 6 from 2 now. One big hit will do it for Nepal. Can Bam be the hero for them?

Right in the blockhole, on middle, Lokesh Bam jams it out towards long on. He sets off the run but then decides against it. Probably the right thing to do, as if anyone can do it for Nepal, it is Bam. 6 needed off the last ball.

Heartbreak for Lokesh Bam, and Nepal! So close, yet cruelly out of reach. Sam Curran steps up when his team needed him the most. He does not quite get the yorker right, but bowls a low full toss. Not an easy ball to hit for six. Lokesh Bam fails to get under it fully and only drills it as far as long off for one. He gets down on his knees at the other end and is inconsolable as he feels this got away from them. There is a sense of relief in the English camp, they just about get over the line here. ENGLAND WIN BY 4 RUNS!

FOUR! Perfect start to the over for Nepal! It does not matter how the runs come as long as they keep coming. Fuller and around off, Lokesh Bam goes down to swipe it away but gets a top edge over the keeper's head for a boundary. 20 needed in 11 now.

WIDE! Tries the wide yorker, but bowls this way outside off, Lokesh Bam leaves it alone. Wided.

WIDE! Another one! This shows England are under pressure here. Wood spills another full delivery, way outside off, Lokesh Bam lets it go. 18 needed in 11 now.

A precious dot! Luke Wood finally gets it right, serves this full and around off, angling away. Lokesh Bam goes down for the slog sweep but only connects with thin air.

FOUR! Lokesh Bam is playing a blinder here! This is a slower one, full and around off. Bam tries to loft it over mid off, who is up in the circle. He does not get it from the middle of the bat but gets enough to clear the fielder. The fielder from long on runs to his left but cannot cut it out as the ball trickles away to the fence for a boundary. 14 needed in 9 now.

WIDE! This is not good from Luke Wood! He fails to execute the wide yorker once again, bowls this outside the wide guideline. Nepal won't mind, they will take a few more of these if they can.

JUST SHORT! A full toss, on middle, Lokesh Bam lofts it down the ground but does not get the timing. Will Jacks from long on runs to his left and dives but fails to reach it. However, he does well to get his body behind the line to stop the boundary. Two taken.

More good fielding from Will Jacks! Overpitched delivery, on middle, Lokesh Bam crouches low and slogs it hard and wide of long on. Jacks quickly runs to his left and stops it well to keep it to just one run.

OUT! CASTLED! Luke Wood finishes the over well here. He goes full and straight, attacking the stumps. Gulshan Jha stays deep inside the crease and has a swing across the line but misses due to the extra pace. The ball goes through to shatter the stumps. Nepal are 175/6, but the good thing for them is Lokesh Bam will be on strike for the final over.

WIDE! Tries the off-cutter, but spills this down the leg side. Aarif Sheikh fails to glance it away. Called a wide.

SIX! Gets hold of that one! Jofra Archer bowls this on a good length and around off, takes pace off. Aarif Sheikh crouches low and heaves it across the line. He almost goes through the shot early but manages to get enough power to send it over Phil Salt at deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Jofra Archer goes fuller this time, outside off, pace off again. Aarif Sheikh has to reach out for it, and throws the kitchen sink at it. He only manages to get a thick outside edge behind, where Jos Buttler moves to his right and takes a sharp catch. Nepal are 146/5, still needing 39 runs in 16 balls.

Fuller and around off, Gulshan Jha drills it to sweeper cover for a single.

WIDE! Hard length and outside off, slower too but this one just goes over the guideline. Lokesh Bam fails to reach it. Given as a wide.

SIX! What a shot under pressure! Jofra Archer sticks to the slower delivery, but serves this full, on off. Lokesh Bam gets right underneath the ball and tonks it over the long off fence for half a dozen more.

SIX MORE! Bam goes boom... Nepal are not backing down here. Archer bangs this into the pitch, but gives no pace to the batter. Lokesh Bam is expecting that, he moves inside the line of the ball and pulls it away. The fielder at deep square leg thinks he is in the game but only watches it sail over his head for another six.

Overpitched and on middle, Lokesh Bam makes room and drives it to sweeper cover for one and keeps the strike. 24 needed in 12 now.

Right in the blockhole, on off, Lokesh Bam just about gets his bat down in time to jam it out towards cover-point for a single.

Another fine yorker, on middle, Aarif Sheikh digs it towards long on for a run. 54 needed in 22 now.

Clever bowling! Back of a length and just outside off, rolls his fingers to take the pace off, Lokesh Bam makes room and throws his bat at it but misses.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Fuller delivery, outside off, pace off again and this one turns away too. Lokesh Bam looks to slog it across the line but gets a top edge that flies over short third for a boundary.

FOUR! That will help too! Sam Curran goes fuller this time, attacks the stumps, on middle and leg. Lokesh Bam tries to whip it away but gets an inside edge that races wide of short fine for another boundary.

Superb finish to the over from Curran! He nails another yorker, on middle, Lokesh Bam only manages to dig it back to the bowler. 46 needed off 18 balls. 

Tossed up, full and on off, holds up in the surface a bit. Aarif Sheikh looks to push it away but the ball hits the upper part of his bat. It lobs up but does not carry to short extra cover.

Drops it short and around off, Aarif Sheikh punches it to sweeper cover fo a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! A superb catch in the deep, and England are starting to regain control of this game. Liam Dawson floats it up, full and on middle, turns away a bit. Rohit Paudel goes down for the slog sweep but hits it from the bottom half of his bat. It flies flat towards deep mid-wicket, where Phil Salt runs to his right, dives and takes a fantastic catch just inches above the ground. There is a check for the catch, but the replay shows that Salt has his fingers underneath the ball. Paudel walks back for 39 off 34, and Nepal are four down now. In the space of eight balls, both set Nepal batters are gone and England have suddenly climbed on top. Momentum flipped, and now it is 59 needed off 27.

Flatter, full and on leg, Lokesh Bam clips it through square leg for another run.

Short and on middle, Aarif Sheikh pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted, full and on middle, Lokesh Bam eases it to long on for one. Magnificent over and spell from Dawson, 2/21 in his 4 overs. 

A low full toss, on off, Rohit Paudel drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Sam Curran gets the wicket England were desperate for, and the Drinks break bears fruit for them. This is a slower one, full and outside off. Dipendra Singh Airee looks to take it on and go big down the ground, but ends up slicing it as his bat turns in his hands. It flies towards deep extra cover, where Tom Banton takes a good catch under pressure. The stand worth 82 (54) has been broken and England will take a sigh of relief. 

Play and a miss! Fuller and around off, angling away, Aarif Sheikh looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

On a length and on off, Aarif Sheikh pushes it towards extra cover for a single.

Short of a length and just around off, Rohit Paudel tries the reverse ramp but misses due to the lack of pace.

Swing and a miss! Bangs this into the pitch, on off, pace on this time. Rohit Paudel gets hurried on his pull shot and misses. Just 2 runs and a wicket from the over. 60 needed from 30 balls now.

Flatter, full and around leg, Rohit Paudel goes down and paddles it to short fine for a single. The running between the wickets between these two has been fantastic. 

Slightly shorter in length, quicker as well, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee punches it to long off for a run.

SIX! SMOKED! Adil Rashid bowls the googly. but drops it short, turning into leg. Rohit Paudel picks up the length early, rocks back and whacks it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Flighted, full and on middle, Rohit Paudel slog sweeps it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Wow...top shot! Tossed up, full and around off, Dipendra Singh Airee does not try to hit it hard. He just leans on to his drive and creams it through covers for a boundary. Nepal are really taking on Rashid here.

SIX! 19 runs off this Adil Rashid over! The leggie gives this one some more air, full and around middle. Dipendra Singh Airee changes his stance early and absolutely nails the reverse batted shot. He hits it so well that it sails over the man at deep point for half a dozen of runs.

Uppish but safe! Change in pace first up. Good length and on off, at 110 clicks, Rohit Paudel goes through his push early and lobs it in the air but it lands well in front of extra cover.

Goes fuller and just outside off, Rohit Paudel opens up his stance to go over covers but misses.

Cannot get it away! Short of a length and down the leg side, begging to be put away. Rohit Paudel hooks it but fails to beat fine leg. A single taken.

Sharp bowling! Jofra Archer bangs in a quick bouncer now, Dipendra Singh Airee sways away and decides late to play the upper cut but fails to connect.

In the air...safe! Back of a length and on middle, takes off a bit. Dipendra Singh Airee looks to pull but gets a top edge. Jos Buttler, the keeper runs to his left but the ball drops safely in the square leg region. They cross.

Pitched up and on middle, angling in, Rohit Paudel slogs it wide of long on, just one more. 3 runs off the over, tidy from Archer!

WIDE! Starts with a fuller one but down the leg side, Rohit Paudel misses his flick. Called a wide. The fifty stand comes up! 

FOUR! Gets it away! A loopy off-cutter, full and around middle. Rohit Paudel backs away very early. He has to wait for it but manages to get it through extra covers for a boundary.

Full but on the pads, Rohit Paudel glances it towards fine leg for a single.

Pitched up and around off, Dipendra Singh Airee drives it to sweeper cover for a run.

Hits the length hard, on leg, Rohit Paudel backs away and forces it down to long on for another run.

Back of a length and on off, Dipendra Singh Airee dabs it towards backward point for one. 100 UP FOR NEPAL!

Hard length and outside off, takes pace off, Rohit Paudel makes room and stabs it out towards backward point. He sets off for the run and scampers across to the other end, with the fielder missing his shy at the bowling end. Nepal need 84 runs in 48 balls.

Floated, full and on middle, Dipendra Singh Airee drills it down the pitch. Liam Dawson dives to his left on the follow-through to make the stop.

FOUR! That is a superb shot! Tossed up, full and outside off. Dipendra Singh Airee whips his hands through the shot, reaches out and carves it over extra cover for a boundary.

Flatter, full and on leg, Dipendra Singh Airee clips it away to deep square leg for a single.

Swing and a miss! Slower through the air, full and around off, grips and turns away sharply. Rohit Paudel goes down for the slog sweep but fails to connect.

Quicker one, full and on the pads, Rohit Paudel tucks it towards short fine for one.

Flatter, short and on off, Dipendra Singh Airee punches it wide of the bowler. Liam Dawson moves to his right quickly, dives and stops it with his right hand. 

Short, outside off, Rohit Paudel cuts it to the fielder at cover-point.

Quicker, on middle and leg, Rohit Paudel makes room and fends it to wide mid on for a single.

Adil Rashid keeps it full, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee pushes it to the left of the bowler.

FOUR! Some innovation from Dipendra Singh Airee! Flatter, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee changes his stance and reverse sweeps it over backward point for a boundary.

Quicker, on middle, Dipendra Singh Airee turns it to square leg for a run.

FOUR! Through the gap and Nepal are starting to believe! Flatter, just outside off, Rohit Paudel gets down on one knee and chips it in the gap through extra cover as the ball races away to the fence. 100 needed off 60 balls. 

Good running between the wickets! Nepal batters are putting some pressure on the English team. Full, on middle, Rohit Paudel flicks it to mid-wicket for a brace. The partnership moves to 30 off 17 balls. 

Flatter, on middle, Rohit Paudel stays back and flicks it to square leg for a single.

Quicker and shorter, on middle, Dipendra Singh Airee punches it to wide of extra cover for a single.

Fired in, on middle, Rohit Paudel knocks it to mid off for a single. 

Flatter, on off, and it bounces a bit extra. Dipendra Singh Airee is caught by surprise as he looks to block it. The ball hits the upper part of his bat. It lobs and lands safely in the vacant silly point region. Dot.

Much fuller, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee pushes it to the fielder at extra cover.

FOUR! Dipendra Singh Airee joins the party now! Will Jacks errs in his line down the leg side, Dipendra Singh Airee picks it well and helps it through fine leg for a boundary.

Short ball, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee stays back and blocks it to the left of the bowler.

Flatter, just outside off, Dipendra Singh Airee drives it through cover for a single.

Much fuller this time, on middle, Rohit Paudel sweeps it through mid-wicket for a single. Good comeback from Will Jacks after conceding a boundary on the first ball.

Beaten! Short and wide, with a hint of turn. Dipendra Singh Airee tries to cut it but gets beaten.

FOUR! Excellent way to finish the over! Flatter, full and on leg, Dipendra Singh Airee gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. They are growing in confidence here.

FOUR! Width on offer and Dipendra Singh Airee doesn't miss out. Flatter, outside off, Dipendra Singh Airee reaches out to it and cuts it through backward point for a boundary.

Short, on off, Dipendra Singh Airee pushes it to wide of mid off for a quick single.

Short again, on off, Rohit Paudel punches it to the fielder at cover.

Flatter, on middle and leg, Rohit Paudel gets low and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a run.

Fired in, on middle, Dipendra Singh Airee hops a bit and flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! That was much-needed! A half-tracker from Adil Rashid, on middle and leg. Rohit Paudel gets down on one knee and clatters it over deep mid-wicket as the ball sails into the stands.

Wide! Will Jacks starts with a wide. Short, down the leg side, Rohit Paudel leaves it alone. 

Short ball, on off, Rohit Paudel stays back and knocks it down to long on for a run.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! That's a soft dismissal. After a fine start, Nepal lose two in a hurry. Will Jacks bowls a slower one, short and on off. Kushal Bhurtel goes deep in his crease and looks to work it away but the ball hits the leading part of his bat. It lobs back to the right of Will Jacks, who takes a simple catch. Nepal are 42/2, needing 143 runs in 88 balls.

Flatter, on middle and leg, Dipendra Singh Airee works it through square leg for a brace. He gets off the mark.

Quicker, on middle and leg, Dipendra Singh Airee pulls it through square leg for one.

Nice and full, on leg, Rohit Paudel stays back and clips it through square leg for a single.

Flatter, on middle and leg, Dipendra Singh Airee gets down on one knee and slogs it through backward square leg for a run.

Full, on off, Kushal Bhurtel blocks it to mid off.

On a hard length, on off, Kushal Bhurtel guides it to the right of short third and gets a single.

Fuller, just outside off, Rohit Paudel bunts it to cover.

WIDE! Rohit Paudel looks to flick this fuller delivery, going down the leg side but misses.

On a length, on off, Rohit Paudel drives it to cover.

Full toss, on middle, Rohit Paudel nudges it but straight to the short mid-wicket fielder.

Yorker, on middle, Rohit Paudel squeezes a flick shot to the short mid-wicket fielder, but he fumbles and the batter takes a single. 

In the air... and safe! Fuller, around leg, Kushal Bhurtel attempts to sweep it but gets the top edge. The ball loops over short fine leg and drops safely. Brace taken.

TWO WIDES! Fuller, darting down the leg side. Kushal Bhurtel misses the flick and Buttler fumbles to glove it. Ends up parring it to short fine leg and the batter gets the single.

Fuller, on middle, Aasif Sheikh works it to mid-wicket for one.

Full, on off, Kushal Bhurtel nudges it to square leg for another single.

Full, on leg, Aasif Sheikh flicks it to short fine leg.

OUT! CAUGHT! Liam Dawson is fired up. Fuller around leg, Aasif Sheikh once again goes for the sweep but only manages the top edge. The ball lobs gently to the right of Luke Wood at short fine leg, who shuffles across and pouches a dolly. Nepal lose their first wicket at 37, will this breakthrough finally put the brakes on the run flow?

Full, on middle, Rohit Paudel defends it to his front.

FOUR! That's easy pickings for Kushal Bhurtel! On a good length, around the thigh pad. Kushal Bhurtel tickles it away through short fine leg for four runs. 

Short, outside off, angling away, Kushal Bhurtel attempts to cut it but misses.

SIX! Kushal Bhurtel, you beauty! Short of a length, on middle. Bhurtel stands tall and pulls it up and over the deep square leg fence for a big six. The crowd is loving it, the fans of Nepal are dancing. This is exceptional striking from Bhurtel, playing fearless cricket. 

Fuller, shaping away from the off stump, Kushal Bhurtel looks to push it to cover, but gets the outside edge onto deep third for a single.

FOUR! Just the flick of the wrist! Aasif Sheikh is not holding back after watching his partner smoking the deliveries. On a good length, on middle, angling away. Aasif Sheikh flicks it up and over mid-wicket and gets four runs.

On a length, on middle, Aasif Sheikh dabs back to the bowler. 15 from the over, 29 from last two. 

Overpitched, around the pads, Aasif Sheikh clips it to deep fine leg to rotate the strike.

FOUR! Up and over! Fuller, just outside off by Jofra Archer. Kushal Bhurtel prods and drives it over the point region. That's the first boundary of the chase. 

FOUR! This is excellent batting from Bhurtel! Fuller again, on off pole. Kushal Bhurtel drives it through the gap between cover and point to get back-to-back boundaries.

Beaten! Back of a length, just outside off, zips through the surface. Kushal Bhurtel looks to cut it but gets beaten due to the extra pace on the ball. Much better from Archer.

FOUR! Excellent shot! This is a very positive start from Kushal Bhurtel as well as Nepal. On a length, on off, Kushal Bhurtel stays on the leg side of the delivery and drills it toward the right of the extra cover fielder for four more runs.

On a length, outside off, Kushal Bhurtel guides it to deep third for a single. 14 runs off this over!

Beaten straight away! Wood pitches it back of a length, shaping it away. Kushal Bhurtel hangs back to punch it through cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Back of a length again, on middle, Kushal Bhurtel nudges it to mid-wicket.

Low full toss, on middle. Kushal Bhurtel rolls his wrists and flicks it through square leg for a single. Bhurtel is off the mark!

On a hard length, angling away, with a hint of inswinger. Aasif Sheikh pats it to the right of short cover.

Fuller, just outside leg, Aasif Sheikh misses his flick and it thumps on his pad, onto short cover.

Fuller, on middle, Aasif Sheikh tucks it to deep square leg and gets a single. Two runs to start off the second inning!