This is what cricket is all about. Who would have thought that a team of part-timers could beat a bunch of world stars, who are playing on their own turf, in the style that they did.
The way they bowled in the last nine overs, allowing England only 62 runs with five wickets falling, before coming out to bat knowing they had nothing to lose. In fact, they batted superbly, slamming four sixes in total in their innings. Compare that to England, who didn’t even manage to go over the rope.
It was also the running between the wickets, that Paul Collingwood admitted that the Dutch did better, that helped win the game. In fact, two of the England bowlers did not even managed a dot ball in their 24 balls.
The game was delayed by 20 minutes, due to rain, which also meant that the opening ceremony had to be abandoned. England’s day did not start well, with the news that Kevin Pietersen will miss out and now they will be sweating over his fitness for Sunday.
Bopara and Luke Wright started the game – and the tournament, in some fashion both hitting quick fire boundaries as the pair wasted no time getting into their stride. Both hit some classy shots, and soon England found themselves on 100 without loss after 11. But the duo failed to hit any sixes, Luke Wright in particular showing the most intent but due to some slower balls from Netherlands, it helped restrict what could have been more.
It was the slower ball which brought about the first wicket, Bopara skying one into the air awarding an easy catch for the Dutch. From then on, England could not manage too many boundaries, but Luke Wright hit a superb 71 as the hosts still looked likely for a score around 170 or 180.
Rob Key, making his Twenty20 debut, was poor, as he showed little intent for the ropes and his running between the wickets was not satisfactory. A few wickets fell and England finished on 162-5. It wasn’t a great score but surely enough to defend against the minnows.
In reply, Netherlands made a bad start. They were 2-1 in the first over,but opener Darron Reekers hit a rapid 20, including one big six to give them some hopes of snatching an unlikely victory. Batsmen De Groot hit 49, and England suddenly sensed that victory was not certain. Run out oppurtunity missed, a difficult drop catch at the boundary and some good running meant that the team in orange needed just seven off six.
Stuart Broad bowled tight deliveries, but in the over he has missed two run out chances and dropped a catch. Last ball, Netherlands required two off one. When Edgar Schiferli hit the ball back to Broad, he and Ryan ten Doeschate (22), Broad suddenly had a chance at the stumps which missed, and went for overthrows. Netherlands already ran the single, ran again as England could not retrieve the ball in time.
Netherlands recorded a major blow, winning by four wickets, a result no one would have though possible and this may have been the worst ever day for English cricket.
England will have to beat Pakistan on Sunday, and if they fail, then will be crashing out in the group stages. Netherlands defied the scripts, and all credit to them, but England, in front of their own fans, may say goodbye come Sunday night.
Group B
| Teams |
Mat |
Won |
Lost |
Tied |
N/R |
Pts |
Net RR |
| Netherlands |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
+0.050 |
| England |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
-0.050 |
