Four associate v full member games in the World Cup so far and the associate member has been competitive in every one, with Nepal the latest to push their better funded counterparts close with a four run defeat against England.

After five previous meetings at the men's Under-19 World Cup, this was the first match between the two sides at the senior international level, with England batting first after they won the toss.

Nepal's debutant Sher Malla struck with his first ball in international cricket in the second over, getting Phil Salt caught at short fine leg. Jos Buttler (26) provided the early impetus for England, before Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook added 51 for the fourth wicket before the former was out for 55.

Brook reached 53 before he was the sixth man out, whilst Will Jacks clubbed 39 from only 18 balls including three sixes from the final over to help England post 184-7 from their 20 overs.

A partnership of 82 between Rohit Paudel and Diepndra Singh Airee provided the backbone to the Nepali reply, with Airee reaching 44 from 29 balls before he was out in the 15th over. Paudel followed for 39 in the next over, and Nepal found themselves needing 56 runs from the final four overs.

Nepal fans cheer on their team

Lokesh Bam hit two fours from the 17th over before Aarif Sheikh hit Jofra Archer for six at the start of the 18th. He was out the next ball but Bam got back on strike and hit two sixes later in the over to leave Nepal needing 24 from the last 12 balls.

Luke Wood bowled the penultimate over and it was a wayward one with three wides and two Bam fours as he conceded 14 runs, though he did bowl Gulshan Jha to finish the over, meaning that Nepal needed ten from the last over with Bam back on strike.

Sam Curran came on to bowl the final over and got Bam to swing and miss at the first delivery. Singles from the next two followed by two from the fourth meant that Nepal needed six from two balls. A dot ball followed, meaning that Lokesh Bam had to hit a six from the last ball of the match to win.

The fairytale ending didn't come though as Curran bowled a low full toss which Bam could only hit to deep cover for a single. England had survived a scare and won by four runs, and Nepal had showed that they certainly aren't here to make up the numbers.

England play more familiar opponents in their next match, which will be against West Indies on Wednesday. Nepal next play in Thursday when they take on Italy in the first match between the two sides since 2013.