Mumbai: Nepal’s spirited fight against cricket powerhouse England ended in a heartbreaking four-run defeat in their opening Group ‘C’ match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a challenging target of 185, Nepal kept alive hopes of a historic upset until the final delivery before finishing on 180-6, in front of thousands of Nepali supporters clad in national jerseys. Had Nepal managed 10 runs off the final over, they would have registered their maiden victory over a Test-playing nation in the Men’s T20 World Cup.

Dipendra Singh Airee top-scored with a fluent 44 off 29 balls, while captain Rohit Paudel and Lokesh Bam contributed 39 runs each.

England captain Harry Brook praised Nepal’s performance after the hard-fought win.

“Nepal played extremely well and it wasn’t easy at all for us. They put us in a tricky situation,” Brook said after the match. “I thought we were in a good position to defend the total, but didn’t expect it to be that close. I wish them all the best for the rest of the tournament,” he added.

Nepal got off to a shaky start, losing opener Aasif Sheikh for 7. His opening partner Kushal Bhurtel, however, played fearlessly, striking three boundaries in the second over. Bhurtel departed for 29 off 17 balls, caught and bowled by Will Jacks, with Nepal at 42-2 in 5.2 overs.

Paudel and Airee then revived the chase with an 82-run partnership for the third wicket. Airee was dismissed in the 14.2 over with 124 on the board. He struck six fours and a six, before being caught by Tom Banton off Sam Curran.

Paudel soon followed, scoring 39 off 34 balls with two fours and two sixes, caught by Phil Salt off Liam Dawson.

Middle-order batter Lokesh Bam, coming in at No. 6, remained unbeaten on 39 off 20 balls, smashing four fours and two sixes. He could have pulled victory for Nepal had he scored six in the final delivery or 10 in the final over against Sam Curran.But Sam conceded just five runs.

For England, Liam Dawson returned figures of 2-21, while Luke Wood, Jofra Archer, Will Jacks and Sam Curran picked up one wicket each.

“Though the result didn’t go in our favour, we put our full effort in bowling, fielding and batting,” said Nepal captain Paudel. “Sam Curran bowled really well in the death over.”

Earlier, two-time world champions England opted to bat first and posted 184-7, powered by fluent half-centuries from Jacob Bethell and Brook.

Bethell scored a brisk 55 off 35 balls, while Brook followed with a quickfire 53 off 32. England were reduced to 57-3 early before the pair steadied the innings with a crucial 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Bethell struck four fours and four sixes before being caught by Lokesh Bam off Airee in the 14th over. Brook hit four fours and three sixes before Nandan Yadav had him caught by Sher Malla.

In the lower middle order, Will Jacks made a valuable unbeaten 39 off 18 balls, including a four and four sixes. He smashed three sixes in the final over bowled by Karan, as England plundered 21 runs.

Earlier, debutant Sher Malla enjoyed a dream start, dismissing opener Phil Salt for one with his very first delivery, caught by Sandeep Lamichhane.

Jos Buttler was the second wicket to fall, scoring 26 off 17 balls before being caught behind by wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh off Nandan Yadav.

For Nepal, Airee and Nandan Yadav claimed two wickets each, while Sher Malla and Lamichhane took one apiece.