The Hindu : England crushes Netherlands

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

England crushes Netherlands

EAST LONDON Feb. 16. Pace bowler James Anderson took a career best four for 25 as England crushed minnow Netherlands by six wickets on Sunday to open its World Cup campaign after putting to rest a bitter row over refusing to play Zimbabwe.

After the 20-year-old Anderson's star performance helped England restrict the Netherlands to 142 for nine in 50 overs, England raced to the target in only 23.2 overs with Nick Knight and Michael Vaughan making 51 runs apiece to share an 89-run partnership for the second wicket.

Vaughan and Knight scored boundaries at will, hardly ever troubled by the Dutch bowling attack, which had restricted India to 204 on Wednesday in its opening Group A match. Knight took 12 runs off spinner Adeel Raja's second over with two audacious reverse sweeps.

``Any one-day game that you win in 23 overs is a comprehensive victory against anyone. I don't think there have been (in this tournament) too many margins like that. I am very pleased with that,'' England captain Nasser Hussain said.

The determination was evident in England's bowling, fielding and batting.

Playing only his ninth match, Anderson — who made his international debut during a tri-series against Australia only two months ago as a replacement for injured senior colleagues — bowled 10 overs straight with one maiden to polish off the top batting order of the Netherlands side.

Only 35-year-old Tim de Leede, the most experienced player in the Dutch side, survived, scoring a career best 58 not out with six fours, and shared a 30-run unbroken partnership with Jeroen Smits for the last wicket.

``They played quite solidly. They are a top class side and it was fantastic to see them on the field, a pleasure to see them going,'' said Netherlands captain Roland Lefebvre.

Andy Caddick, who opened the bowling, tied down the amateur Dutch players at the other end, conceding only 11 runs in seven overs in his first spell with four maidens. He finished with 10-4-19-0.

Anderson's victims included openers Daan van Bunge, a 20-year-old opener who scored 62 against India, and Luuk van Troost, trapped leg before in the 10th over.

Holland lost the next three wickets in a space of nine balls with no runs scored. Two of the victims — Sussex batsman Bas Zuiderent and Jan van Noortwijk — were claimed by Anderson, while Andrew Flintoff had Nick Statham trapped leg before for seven.

The run drought ended when De Leede, playing his ninth one-day match, square cut Anderson for a boundary on his first ball of the 18th over.

Two balls later he drove Anderson again through mid off for another boundary. A third drive to the mid on boundary was saved by Vaughan but not before De Leede got three runs.

But the total of 142 was barely challenging for Knight and Vaughan, who, however, spoilt the England party by getting out to reckless shots.

Opener Marcus Trescothick, who also had looked in fine nick after scoring two fours in the first two overs, was bowled by Edgar Schiferli for 12 playing a blind drive without getting to the pitch of the ball.

Vaughan and Knight, who both hit eight fours, were claimed by Van Bunge, the second change bowler delivering deceptive leg spins. Vaughan, trying to drive, gave a catch to de Leede at first slip while Knight, trying to pull a short delivery, spooned the ball to Zuiderent at short mid-wicket.

Ian Blackwell, 22 not out, and Paul Collingwood, five not out, completed the victory.

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