England Outplayed By Netherlands In World T20 Opening Match

ICC World Twenty20 opener creates history when England were defeated by Dutch.In a outstanding last-ball finish, England were thrashed out by the Netherlands by four wickets.
Chasing the target of 162 on an even surface that allowed batsmen to go through with their shots, the Dutch batsmen achieved the target on the last ball with four wickets to spare.
Earlier,England started there match in star batsman Kevin Pietersen’s absence from the playing XI due to an Achilles tendon injury.

For England, the adventurous opening duo of Luke Wright (71) and Ravi Bopara (46) got the team off to a blazing start, bringing up the 100-run partnership inside 12 overs. ten Doeschate, who plays alongside Bopara for Essex, dismissed his county team-mate to trigger a mini collapse for England.
Soon after seamer Edgar Schiferli got rid of the dangerous Owais Shah (5). Wright held fort and continued to play his strokes but did not find any substantial support from the English middle and lower order.So unusual was the English innings that it was deprived of a single six in the innings. Wright’s eight boundaries were complimented by five off Bopara’s blade besides one by Collingwood.
For the Netherlands, Dirk Nannes went wicket-less but conceded an acceptable 30 runs off his four-over spell. ten Doeschate proved to be their most effective bowler with figures of 2-35 while part-timer Peter Borren finished with figures of 1-31.

Nerve overtook the Dutch chase when their batsmen lost lost the momentum in the period immediately after the 15-over mark. A tremendous late burst by England spearhead James Anderson (3-23) pegged things back for the Netherlands but Ryan ten Doeschate held his nerves and stunned Paul Collingwood’s men.

The Netherlands went into the final over needing 7 runs but came up against a fired-up Stuart Broad, who conceded just three runs from the first three balls.

Schiferli was left with the strenuous task of finishing off the game, as the Dutch needed two runs off the last ball. Schiferli hit the ball straight back at Broad and ran for life. Broad collected the ball cleanly in his follow-through but failed to hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end. The result was disastrous for England as there was no fielder to back up, allowing Schiferli and ten Doeschate to come back for the second run and seal a famous victory at the Lord’s.
It was the fifty-run stand between Borren (30) and de Grooth for the fourth-wicket that held the Dutch innings together and proved to be the difference between the two sides.


Final Score:

ENGLAND: 162/5 (20) RR: 8.10

Ravi Bopara : 46 runs on 34 balls, 4 fours, S/R 135.29

Luke Wright : 71 runs on 49 balls, 8 fours, S/R 144.90

Ryan ten Doeschate : 2 wickets for 35 runs.

NETHERLANDS: 163/6 (20) RR: 8.15

Tom de Grooth : 49 runs on 30 balls, 6 fours , 1 six ,S/R 163.33

James Anderson : 3 wickets for 23 runs

Man of the match : Tom de Grooth

Result: Netherlands won by 4 wickets

Cricket Moments ICC World Twenty20 2007

CHAMPIONS! Team India after winning the inaugural World Twenty20.


Pakistan's Yasir Arafat loses his nerve and his wicket in the grand finale against India.


The hotstepping dancers keep going on and on.



A super spell by Aussie pacer Brett Lee led to the first ever hat-trick in Twenty20 internationals.




Yuvraj Singh of India created T20 history by being the first batsman to score 6 sixes in an over off England's Stuart Broad.



Robin Uthappa of India takes a bow after hitting the stumps in the bowl out against Pakistan.




Chris Gayle celebrates being the first to score a T20I century in the opening game against South Africa.

Pictures Of Warm Up Matches ICC World Twenty20

Australia Vs New Zealand Warm Up Game

=>Michael Clarke of Australia cover drives during the Twenty20 warm up match between Australia and New Zealand at The Brit Oval on June 2, 2009 in London, England.


=>Michael Clarke of Australia hits out as wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan of New Zealand looks on during the Twenty20 warm up match between Australia and New Zealand at The Brit Oval.


=>Ricky Ponting (R) and Michael Clarke of Australia share in a 100 run partnership during the Twenty20 warm up match
=>Australia's Ricky Ponting (L) plays a shot against New Zealand during an ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match at the Oval.
=>Daniel Vettori of New Zealand reaches for a wide one during the Twenty20 warm up match between Australia and New Zealand at The Brit Oval.







=>Jacob Oram (L) of New Zealand is run out after a direct hit on the stumps while Australia's wicket keeper Brad Haddin (R) looks on during an ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match
=>Scott Styris of New Zealand drives during the Twenty20 warm up match between Australia and New Zealand at The Brit Oval.
=>Australia's wicket keeper Brad Haddin (L) attemps to run out Peter McGlashan (R) of New Zealand during a ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match at the Oval.