Dutch crash England party

The Netherlands cricket team turned up at a wet Lords yesterday afternoon for the opening of the T20 World Cup, with many thinking they were just there to make up the numbers against an English side brimming with confidence. How wrong we were!

The Netherlands, clad in their bright orange outfits, stood out as a team who were motivated to perform and not leave the field disappointed. A team mainly made up of amateurs, could not have seriously thought that they could make these professionals look no better your local pub team. In fact, it was the Dutch and their professional attitude which shone brightest on a damp night in St John's Wood to shock the majority of the crowd and leave Paul Collingwood stumped for words.

It could easily have been so different though. England started well, and at 100 for 0 after 11 overs, a score of 180+ was on the cards. Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright started positively and were scoring consistently, and in all honesty, there was no need for Bopara to try and heave his Essex team mate ten Doeschate over cow corner, but he tried and failed. With Pietersen out injured, Rob Key was down to come in at number 3, but Shah, Morgan and Collingwood all moved above him in the order, all then falling cheaply, and with Luke Wright holing out for 71, it left Key and returning wicket-keeper James Foster to stumble over the 160 mark. A disappointing finish to an innings, which saw only 14 fours and no sixes, and England possibly ruing the fact that big six hitters with IPL experience in Mascheranas and Napier were both sitting on the sidelines.

Despite the Netherlands regularly losing wickets, they kept hitting the big shots for four and six, keeping them ahead of the required run rate, and the Duckworth/Lewis rate, although even with steady rain, the umpires kept the players out there. Coming down to the last over, the Dutch needed seven to win. By now, the floodlights were shining brightly, and the crowd were getting very nervous. Broad was to bowl, and after fluffing a run out and catch off his own bowling, he then tried to throw the stumps down off the final ball, which would have given England the win by one run. Instead, the throw went wide with no field backing up, and the Dutch won courtesy of an over throw. This sparked wild scenes of celebration from the Dutch players, with small pockets of orange in the stands bouncing wildly, and no doubt the Dutch will enjoy their celebrations. And congratulations to them for having the belief that if they gave their all, you never know what might happen.

For England, this is a terribly sorry tale, and we can only hope that the weather stays away on Sunday for a crucial must win game against Pakistan at the Oval. Oh, and that KP is fit enough to play. England really thought they could make an impression in this T20 World Cup on home soil, and they have! But I don't think it's the impression we were all hoping for!