Gordon Brown can you hear me? Your boys took a hell of a beating!

We may not understand cricket, half our national team may just be amateurs but the Netherlands just thrashed England in the opening game of the World Twenty20:

This wasn’t to be the case as Tom de Grooth steered the Dutch to victory with a game winning 49. Early in his inning de Grooth even managed to hit a marvelous reverse sweep off the bowling of Adil Rashid for 4 into the Tavern Stand much to the delight of the large number of Dutch fans around the ground.

With ten overs gone the prospect of a stunning Dutch victory started to gain momentum. Peter Borren was playing a key roll in the middle order for the Dutch taking quick singles to ensure de Grooth took more of the strike.

De Grooth finally fell in the 13th over but the damage was already done.

No idea what this all means but it was certainly exciting watching it on the BBC replay.

Cricket, Gezellig Cricket

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The Netherlands takes on England today, but not at football for once.

After their defeat of Scotland, the the mostly amateur Dutch cricket team [full team list] have been tipped to be surprise upsetters at this weekend’s inaugural Cricket World 2020 Tournament, where’ll they’ll play against experienced, professional teams like India and the West Indies. It’s as though Barnstaple FC somehow got into the Champions League.

Today they take on England, but they’re not worried. Dutch captain Jeroen “Piglet” Smits:

“We are not intimidated by playing at Lord’s,” he says. “We are Dutch. It’s a historic day for Dutch cricket, and we want to make history that day.”

The cloggies certainly have got some gumption. They deserve to do well for that alone. I wonder what the Barmy Army will make of Cloggie fans?

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Hup Holland!