England humiliated by Dutch courage

The Sunday Age

Sunday June 7, 2009

MARK FORBES

A RAMSHACKLE Dutch team, featuring a journeyman Victorian fast bowler, has scrambled to one of cricket's great upsets in the first game of the Twenty20 World Cup, igniting another crisis for English cricket.Commentators and former English players queued up to heap scorn on their national side, while the Netherlands' part-timers basked in their unexpected victory.Opening the bowling for the Dutch was 33-year-old quick Dirk Nannes, who can't win a place in the Australian squad. "It's weird," the Victorian bowler said. "I've been playing for so many teams lately, four different teams in the past year (including English county Middlesex). It's a bit strange."Stranger still was the result, with the Dutch sneaking home with two runs off the last ball after a shy at the stumps conceded an overthrow.The Daily Express branded it "humiliation", comparing England's "most embarrassing defeat" in limited overs cricket to "a rocking horse winning the Grand National"."Clogs 1 Clots 0", said The Sun.Former England cricket captain Mike Atherton said: "If England can't beat a country that has 6000 cricketers and seven grass pitches . . ." He did not finish the sentence. He didn't need to.After reaching 102 without loss, England's batsmen threw their wickets away, posting 5 for 162 from their 20 overs. The Netherlands reached their target of 163 off the last ball.England must now beat Pakistan at The Oval on Sunday to have a chance of qualifying for the second stage.Australia played the West Indies overnight, without disgraced all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who was banished from the national squad because of repeated drinking problems. Symonds flew back to Brisbane yesterday, saying he had a "fair bit to consider".