The roar at the Wankhede Stadium wasn’t for a boundary or a century; it was for a moment of pure cricketing fairytale. On a humid Sunday afternoon in Mumbai, 23-year-old Sher Malla, a young bowler from Dhangadi, Nepal, didn't just step onto the field for his T20 World Cup debut; he announced his arrival with a thunderclap.

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Handed the ball in the second over of the Group C clash against heavyweights England, Sher Malla faced arguably the most destructive T20 opener in the world: Phil Salt. The script seemed written for Salt to dominate, but Malla had other plans. With his very first delivery in international cricket, he induced a mistimed flick from the English star. The ball looped gently toward backward square leg, where Sandeep Lamichhane completed the catch, sending the Nepali contingent in the stands into delirium.

It was a wicket that defied the odds. Salt, known for dismantling attacks in the powerplay, walked back for just 1 run, leaving England stunned early at 5-1. For Sher Malla, it was the ultimate "pinch-me" moment, removing a world-class aggressor with his maiden delivery on the sport's biggest stage.

While England eventually recovered to post a competitive 184/7, courtesy of half-centuries from Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell, the early exchanges belonged to Nepal. Sher Malla’s breakthrough sparked a spirited bowling display that saw England reduced to 57/3 shortly after the powerplay.

For the fans watching, the result became secondary to the narrative: a young bowler from the Sudurpaschim hills staring down a T20 giant and blinking last. It was a debut that will be retold in Nepali cricket folklore for generations.