So the World Cup juggernaut moved onto the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. It is interesting to note that Nagpur is in fact the hometown of the BCCI president Shashank Manohar, perhaps that explains why a brand spanking new stadium exists in what may have otherwise been considered a backwater of Indian cricket!
As the teams walked out for the national anthems there was a palpable feeling that there was a lot more at stake here, this match was played against a backdrop of the minnow teams very existance being questioned. The thrashings that were dished out to the Kenyans and Canadians just one day earlier most certainly had not helped matters. So other than facing the Ashes winners, the Dutch had the weight and expectations of the associate nations on their shoulders. However if they were feeling any pressure they most certainly weren't showing it! Peter Borren called correctly at the toss and with a steely, confident look informed Ravi Shastri that the Dutch would be batting first. It was a brave move, particularly in light of the humiliation that Kenya suffered batting first against the Kiwis, but we would soon find out that this was only the start of Hollands bravery.
The dutch openers set an aggresive tone from the get go, not afraid to play their shots and even go the aerial route. However when Wesley Barresi fell to a flighted ball from Swann outside offstump, they found themselves at 58-2 with both openers dismissed. Most pundits at this point would have predicted the Dutch charge to unravel, but in stepped Ryan Ten Doeschate. He took the game by the scruff of its neck from the first ball he faced. His century including three sixes and his innings took off with particular impetus with the introduction of Pieterson into the bowling attack. His county Essex and those he has played against would have known of Ryan Tendo's prowess, but to perform in such a sublime way on the biggest stage of all is another level all together. None of Englands bowlers posed many problems to him, apart from Swann as he cruised to his century at well over a run a ball.
Ryan Tendo was ably supported along the way by a stodgy and defiant innings from Tom Cooper, before aggressive knocks from de Grooth and the captain Peter Borren propelled the Dutch towards an incredulous 292 - 6 from their 50 overs. Alright so perhaps the pitch in Nagpur was so flat that even 300+ could be relatively easily overhauled, but how many of us had expected the Dutch to get anywhere near 150 let alone 292! It was a magnificent effort from the Netherlands and Ten Doeschate in particular and it provided a refreshing and much needed boost to the case of the associate nations.
England walked out to bat knowing that they were facing a second humiliation by the Dutch after that infamous victory in the 2009 T20 World Cup at Lords. Perhaps thats why they set off at the rate of knots with Strauss and KP smashing a rather toothless looking Holland bowling attack to all parts of the ground. The introduction of Doeschate and Seelar into the attack slowed things down though and it was quite telling that KP ended up with a much lower strike rate than Strauss who was galloping along at over a run a ball. The frustration told in the end as KP gifted is wicket away. Strauss was caught very well by Cooper running in from a deep midwicket position.
Despite these losses though, England were cruising, Strauss had played an excellent knock and Trott was in the process of showing just how much of a belter this Nagpur wicket was.
To Hollands credit they refused to give up their resistance. As England closed in on victory, Doeschate returned and Baressi completed a very smart stumping off a leg side wide to dismiss the set Trott, before Ryan Tendo knocked Ian Bells middle stump out to leave England wobbling at 241-4. More importantly England now needed another 53 runs to win in just 42 balls, finally we had what this World Cup had been crying out for, a well contested cliffhanger of a game!
I must say at this point that as we watched the game unfold, Isis kept on saying that we'll be in for a very tight finish to the match. I adamantly maintained that England would cross the line with ease. As it turned out....Isis was proved right as Bopara and Collingwood saw England stumbling and tripping their way home! The Scorecards will record this as a 6 wicket win for the English but it was anything but that, the Dutch showed an unexpectedly high amount of bravery and tenacity. England may have sneaked home, but it is the Dutch and in particular Doeschate who deserve all the plaudits.
There is no doubt that England did put in a classy display with the bat to save their blushes, but one incident epitomised Englands shambles in the field more than anything else. Doeschate on just 47 lofted Swann straight up in the air, the mid off and mid on fielders, Anderson and Pieterson charged in to take the most simple of catches, before stopping dead in their tracks, waiting for the other to take the catch, the ball dropped right in between them. The look on Swanns face said it all.
England have their points from the win, but Strauss has a lot of thinking to do before his team face a rampant India. If England bowl and field like they did today, I would not bet against India touching 400 odd!
So that wraps it up for Day 4 of CWC 2011, Pakistan take on Kenya tomorrow at Hambantota and Isis will be reporting on that encounter. As Pakistan supporters I think its safe to say that our nerves are well and truly jangling already, see you then!
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