Netherlands' victory over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in World T20 2009 - Dutch Gold - Opinion
Netherlands cricket team is probably the oldest of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PW-Borren-c2225 and of late, Ryan Ten Doeschate, are popular and have followers
around the world. Yet, unlike the other associate members, the Dutch had not managed an upset in global tournaments until the breakthrough came in the 2009 ICC World T20 in the UK.
The first game of the tournament was expected to be a one sided affair where the possibilities of an ultimate c**k up were distinct. The game was played on the hallow turf of Lord's, between hosts England and minnows http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753. The writing was pretty much
on the wall given the head to head tally as well as the fact that the Netherlands had failed to qualify for the inaugural edition of the tournament in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757. They also had a record of failing in other global tournaments such as the ICC Cricket World
Cups of 2003 and 2007. England were thus clear cut favourites, and given the array of top quality players that they had at their disposal back then, the Dutch did not stand a chance. The penny however, eventually dropped.
The Netherlands won the toss and elected to bowl first on a seaming wicket when the twilight hours were taking effect over London. Runs flowed for England at the top as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373 and Luke Wright peppered the Dutch bowlers with the latter registering a
well made 71 runs in just 49 deliveries.
After a stupendous start of 102 for 1 in just 12 overs, England witnessed an almost dramatic collapse. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RN-ten-Doeschate-c2338 and Peter Borren picked up some useful wickets with the former snaring both Bopara and Wright. The English lost on the momentum that
they gained at the start of the innings and only managed 60 runs in the last eight overs, which was a gross under achievement. The Dutch on the other hand, drew a lot of heart by bowling well in the death and not allowing the English to post a considerable
total.
At half time, the old adage of history repeating itself came to the form. It was a well known fact that it was seldom that a good effort with the ball by a minnow side against a giant had not lead to the possibility of staging a major upset. The best example
was Bangladesh’s upset victory over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at Cardiff in 2005, where the former restricted the latter to just 249 in fifty overs and won the game convincingly in the end. That victory may not have been lingering in the minds of the Dutch as they came out
to bat, but the script was pretty much the same.
The English attack consisted of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Kervezee-c1027 in the first
over with just a couple of runs on the board. England was buoyant and believed in the evident win. Then came a magnificent counter attack by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJ-Reekers-c1381 who smashed a quick fire 20 in 13 balls with 2 sixes. Bas Zuiderent provided well needed support, yet
as is characteristic of any minnow side, occasional brilliance is followed up with the inevitable. The Netherlands found themselves at 66 for 3 in 9 overs.
The run rate however, was not too bad for the Dutch and this fact was realized quickly by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LJ-Wright-c1841 and smashed a magnificent 49 runs in just 30 deliveries
with 6 boundaries, and a towering six. England was up against it as their spearhead Anderson came back into the attack.
The game became tense and more difficult for the Dutch as Paul Collingwood eventually had De Grooth caught off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/OA-Shah-c2134. The Netherlands needed 30 runs in four overs which brought Ryan Ten Doeschate
into the limelight.
Two years before he scored that memorable world cup hundred against the same opposition in Nagpur, Ten Doeschate came up with one of the most crucial contributions for his team in this game. He smashed 22 runs off just 17 deliveries with two boundaries which
helped seal the deal for the Netherlands.
The sea of orange in the stands was limited to a few quarters but they made themselves conspicuous by bursting into jubilation. It was an upset in every essence and underlined what the 2009 World T20 had to offer. Yet this day would go down as one of the
most memorable days in Dutch cricket's history.
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