Edwin de Boer,a flag-waving,beer-drinking member of the travelling Dutch fans,is a plumber by trade and is missing out on a fair bit of work,and money,thanks to this trip to London. He must feel one with the team though,considering most of the players themselves have taken time off from their day jobs to shatter a few egos on the international stage. On Friday night,both groups the 5,000-strong orange party and the collection of teachers and architects and such that make up their squad celebrated like they had won the World Twenty20,after Ryan ten Doeschate and Edgar Schiferli had scampered furiously to glory. The players gave their supporters big hugs,the supporters gave the players mugs of beer. The party was just getting started. Long after Stuart Broad had missed a simple run-out chance (for the third time in the last over,apart from a dropped catch) a miss that led to an overthrow that led to humiliation the Dutch players silhouettes could be seen jumping about in the Lords balcony; the ground itself was plunged into darkness,a reflection of the host nations mood perhaps. Broad might have been forgiven for thinking Yuvraj Singh had dealt him his worst nightmare two years ago,but what happened on opening night here must come close. According to a survey,cricket is the 25th most popular sport in The Netherlands. There are a total of around 5,000 registered players,and that,according to a Dutch journalist covering the tournament,includes women cricketers. England have,predictably,been slated in the media for their obsession with the Ashes,for underestimating their opponents,for picking the wrong side. Its hard to disagree with the assessments; of the two sides playing cricket,only one seemed to want to win. Biggest day Without doubt,the biggest day in Dutch cricket history, said captain Jeroen Smits. Its a dream. We went out there to play brave cricket, said Tom de Grooth,who hit a 30-ball 49. Smits was more modest: We had nothing to lose. The shock result has shaken Group B,with England now on the brink of elimination. If the hosts lose to Pakistan on Sunday,they will be out. If,and theres a high possibility of this keeping the weather in mind,the match gets rained off,they need to pray the Dutch beat Pakistan to have any hopes of qualifying. Weve got one day to turn it around, Paul Collingwood mumbled. While things are definitely looking bad for England,the result does give India a little bit of breathing space. If the top teams had qualified according to their seedings,India would have been grouped with South Africa,Australia and England in the Super Eights. They will not particularly mind having The Netherlands thrown into that mix. On the other hand,the Dutch performance and Scotlands blistering batting performance in their rain-shortened Seven7 game against New Zealand on Saturday must surely have given their fellow-minnows a fillip. If they werent already,Irelands own bunch of teachers and gardeners will be licking their lips in anticipation of playing Bangladesh and India.
