Netherlands shock England script history at Lords

T-20 World cup sets off to a grand start.England,the hosts capitulated to a dream performance from the team in orange.The weather gods weren't kind enough for the start of the match.Unfortunately the opening ceremony got canceled.So then the toss was won by Smits,the Netherlands Captain who put england into bat to make use of the moisture in the pitch.Dirk Nannes was the only recognizable name in their team list.England had to miss Pietersons services and Graeme Swann too had to miss out aking way for all rounder Rashid Ali. .So,England then brushed aside their bowling getting around 9 an over with a 100+ partnership.Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright were in full flow smashing boundaries to all parts of the park.Just when the game was getting one sided,Netherlands bowler Doeschate struck removing Bopara after a well made 34 ball 46.Soon Wright completed his fifty.Owais shah was struggling to time the ball and gave up his wicket to Schiferli and then started the middle order blues for England.Morgan,a new addition to the England side couldn't contribute much and was out for a mere 6.The ground fielding and catching of Netherlands was admirable.Wickets kept tumbling at every end for England.Paul Collingwood,Key too couldn't get the big hits going and Netherlands put up a good show at the death overs.Though Luke Wright fought a lone battle England could muster only 162/5.Robert Key who replaced Pietersen having a sore back disappointed and he batting at No.6 position meant that he batted at a position he has done never before.So England still managed a useful total and England were expected to sweep through Netherlands.




Netherlands had to get a quick start to threaten england.Netherland lost their opener AN Kervezee in the very first over to James Anderson.Then the well built DJ Reekers smashed Broad out of the park and threw away his wicket after a quick 20.Still Netherlands had a decent runrate going but they had lost 2 wickets in the mean time.Then started the spirited chase for Nethertlands.England stumbled on the field droping catches,missing runouts and TN de Grooth took heavy toll of that.He scored a rapid 49 off 30 balls dashing England's hopes.Netherlands always looked for singles and each batsmen held his nerve on the right occasion.TN de Grooth also involved in 2 useful stands of 43 and 50 to keep the momentum with them.The chase was meticulously planned by Netherlands.
PW Borren and RN ten Doeschate made useful contributions ensuring the big hits just when neede.england needed now a miracle to save the match from the blushes.Rashid Ali their lone spinner spinner too got a beating from the team in orange.Though the wickets kept falling down,Netherlands was always ahead of England by Duckworth Lewis method.James Anderson gave a lion hearted performance to pick up 3 wickets.Two overs and 17 runs to get.Sidebottom who bowled well till then came on.England though could avoid boundaries could never stop the ones and the twos.A good over for Netherland yielded 10 runs.They required just seven off the last over which was to be bowled by Stuart Broad.Broad wasn't at his best.Netherlands just had to play sensibly to pouch this one.They took 5 singles of first five balls.England couldn't hit the stumps regularly enough and thus faltered.2 runs off one ball.The whole stadium erupted.England needed a dot ball or a single to have a chance while Netherlands needed a two to ensure they reach home.E Schiferli was on strike.Stuart Broad bowled a tight one,they went for a single,Broad aimed at the stumps missed it,overthrows and Netherlands leave England shell shocked completing a glorius 4 WICKET victory.The match has set the tone for the event.expect much more like these.Her's what the captains of both teams felt after the match.
Jeroen Smits: "No. It's unbelievable. This is something special. I think I can sleep well tonight. After the first ten overs we fought back quite well. We thought we were in control [of the chase] from the start, so we felt we were in control. We did well. I'm sure [we'll party tonight]."
Paul Collingwood: "Give Holland a lot of credit. They knocked off a total that we thought was enough. They played exceptionally well; we expected to win but they put a major performance in. I still think we could have defended a total like that, but unfortunately they were better on the day."