MUMBAI: Former South African fast-bowling legend Dale Steyn has applauded the Nepal cricket team for their fearless display and even extended an offer to assist them following their remarkable performance against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.
Nepal came agonizingly close to pulling off a monumental upset, finishing their chase at 180-6 while pursuing England’s challenging 185-run target, falling short by just five runs. Their spirited effort highlighted Nepal’s rising stature on the international cricket stage and earned widespread admiration.
Taking to social media platform X, Steyn expressed his admiration, stating, “Nepal, I offer my services to you if you ever need ’em! Up, up and UP.” His comments underscored the growing respect for Nepal’s cricketing grit.
Nepal started their chase with aggressive intent as openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh laid a strong foundation with a 37-run opening stand. Sheikh was dismissed for 7, while Bhurtel carried on with a quickfire 29 from 17 balls, including four boundaries and a six, before being bowled out at 42-2.
Captain Rohit Paudel then joined forces with Dipendra Singh Airee to rebuild the innings, contributing a vital 82-run partnership in 54 balls. Airee was the main aggressor, scoring a fluent 44 from 29 deliveries, featuring six boundaries and a six, before Sam Curran broke the stand. Paudel soon followed with a composed 39 from 34 balls, leaving Nepal at 126-4 in the 16th over.
Nepal’s momentum was briefly stalled when Aarif Sheikh was dismissed for 10, but Lokesh Bam counter-attacked brilliantly to revive the chase. With 24 runs required from the last two overs, Mark Wood conceded 14 but managed to remove Gulsan Jha, leaving Nepal needing 10 off the final over.
Curran held his nerve under pressure, conceding just five runs to secure a narrow victory for England. Bam remained unbeaten with an explosive 39 from 20 balls, featuring four boundaries and two sixes, bringing Nepal tantalizingly close to a historic triumph.
The match demonstrated Nepal’s fearless approach and ability to challenge top-tier teams, earning plaudits from fans and cricketing legends alike. Steyn’s offer to assist the emerging side reflects the growing recognition of Nepal’s cricketing potential and promises an exciting future for the team in global tournaments.
Nepal’s performance, though falling just short, will be remembered as one of the most spirited efforts in this edition of the T20 World Cup, signaling that they are a team capable of competing with the best.
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