England vs Netherlands

In the end both the sides will be happy with their performance. With the start England got off to, Netherlands will be pleased to only restrict them to 162 bowling tightly towards the end. England won't be that satisfied with their total but will consider that enough with the kind of bowling attack they have. The openers provided a blistering start but once Bopara(46) departed, no one helped Wright(71) to accelerate. Nannes failed to strike even once but did bowl an excellent last over to end on a high. Join us back for the Netherlands reply.

D Nannes to R Key, Key has played it through mid-wicket this time. The batsmen have run through for a single of the last ball. Excellent last over by Nannes and England end on 162 for 5 in their 20 overs.

D Nannes to J Foster, Foster has pushed it to the cover region and once again only a single.

D Nannes to R Key, Good length ball outside the off; played straight to the third man region. The batsmen cross for a single.

D Nannes to R Key, The ball is way wide on the leg side but Key still goes after it. Wide signalled by Umpire Silva.

D Nannes to J Foster, Foster just manages to keep the yorker out. Good ball bowled by Nannes. Nannes goes for a direct hit but misses the stumps. The batsmen get the single.

D Nannes to R Key, Driven through the off side by Key for another single. This is excellent bowling.

D Nannes to J Foster, Foster rocks onto the backfoot and punches the ball on the off side for a single.

Last over of the first innings coming up and England need a big one to end on a high.

P Seelaar to R Key, Key has nudged the ball fine down the leg side for a couple of runs. End of the 19th over.

James Foster is the new man in.

P Seelaar to P Collingwood, OUT! Collingwood departs! Gets that full and he tries to hit that for a maximum. Finds Schiferli at long-on who takes a comfortable catch. England have lost their fifth wicket.

P Seelaar to R Key, Uppish drive through the covers by Key. The batsmen have run through for a single.

P Seelaar to P Collingwood, Driven through the off side by Collingwood and he takes another single.

P Seelaar to R Key, Pushed to the cover region by Key. The batsmen have run through for a single.

P Seelaar to P Collingwood, Collingwood plays the Square-Cut and takes a single.

ten Doeschate to P Collingwood, Collingwood plays the slog sweep. The batsmen have run through for a single of the last ball.

ten Doeschate to R Key, Key has played that with the full face of the bat. One run added to the total.

ten Doeschate to R Key, Driven through the off side by Key. The batsmen come back for a second and the through comes in as well. Keeper Smits hits the stumps but Key has made his ground. Two runs added to the total.

ten Doeschate to P Collingwood, Collingwood has played it to the point region and he gets a single.

Robert Key comes out to the middle. He will need to score some quick runs.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, OUT! Fuller delivery and Wright goes for it this time as well. Gets that pretty high in the air and it's been taken at the mid-wicket boundary by Borren. England have lost their fourth wicket.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, FOUR! Cheeky shot! On the middle and Wright has played the paddle sweep. The fine leg is inside the circle and the ball races to the boundary.

Ryan ten Doeschate comes back in the attack to bowl his final over.

P Seelaar to L Wright, Dropped! Wright has driven it straight down the ground. Seelaar has put down the catch. The batsmen have run through for a single.

P Seelaar to L Wright, FOUR! Flighted delivery and Wright charges down the wicket. Hits that straight over the bowlers head and one bounce, four. He is striking them quite well at the moment.

P Seelaar to P Collingwood, It's a clean strike over mid wicket by Collingwood. But will only get a single as there is a fielder there.

P Seelaar to L Wright, Driven through the leg side by Wright. The batsmen have run through for a single.

P Seelaar to P Collingwood, Collingwood plays the pull-shot and takes a single.

P Seelaar to P Collingwood, FOUR! Collingwood has played that over covers and that is nicely in the gap. The ball races to the boundary. Good way to start here.

Pieter Seelar back on.

P Borren to P Collingwood, Driven through the off side by Collingwood. The batsmen take a single of the last ball. Successful over for the Netherlands side.

P Borren to P Collingwood, Collingwood has played that with the full face of the bat. No run to start.

Skipper Paul Collingwood makes his way to the middle. He would look to make a decent contribution to get his team to a big total.

P Borren to E Morgan, OUT! Another down! Morgan tries the reverse sweep and plays the ball in the air. That is straight in the hands of Zuiderent at point. England have lost their third wicket.

P Borren to E Morgan, Morgan has played that with the full face of the bat. No chance for a run this time.

P Borren to E Morgan, Flighted delivery on the middle; Morgan drives through the covers. Two runs conceded.

P Borren to L Wright, Driven through the covers by Wright and they cross for a single.

Peter Borren comes back in the attack.

D Nannes to L Wright, Wright defends it off the back foot. The batsmen are through for a single of the last ball.

D Nannes to L Wright, FOUR! The bowler drops short on the middle; Wright gives himself room and hits that over extra-cover. The ball reaches the fence on the bounce. That was an excellent shot with the kind of form he is in.

D Nannes to E Morgan, Driven through the leg side by Morgan. The batsmen have run through for a single.

D Nannes to E Morgan, Ball strikes Morgan on his hand, it could be nasty. That was a stunning delivery by Nannes.

D Nannes to L Wright, Wright guides it to third man. One run added to the total.

D Nannes to E Morgan, Driven through the leg side by Morgan. The batsmen are through for a single.

Dirk Nannes comes back in the attack. He needs to strike here with his recent experience.

E Schiferli to E Morgan, Morgan guides it to third man and he also takes a single here. He gets off the mark.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Wide outside the off and Wright guides it to third man. One run added to the total.

E Schiferli to E Morgan, Driven through the covers by Morgan for a single.

Eoin Morgan walks to the middle now at the fall of that wicket.

E Schiferli to O Shah, OUT! The bowler drifted on the pads and Shah just flicks that in the air. That is easy pickings for Grooth at deep square-leg. England have lost their second wicket. Shah fails to contribute here.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Driven through the leg side by Wright. One runs added to the total.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Wright has lofted that over mid off. In the air but again it is out of reach. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs.

Edgar Schiferli back in the attack.

Luke Wright completes his fifty with that single. He looks in great touch coming into this game. England looking good for something big.

P Borren to L Wright, Wright flicks it away with a wristy shot on the leg side and he gets a single of the last ball.

P Borren to O Shah, Defended off the front foot by Shah. One run conceded.

P Borren to L Wright, Wright has played it fine down the leg side. One run added to the total.

P Borren to O Shah, Shah has played it through mid-wicket and they take a single this time.

P Borren to O Shah, Full toss and driven straight to the extra cover fielder. No run for the taking again.

P Borren to O Shah, Shah has played that off the front foot and into the ground. No run off the first ball.

ten Doeschate to O Shah, Shah has flicked the ball on the leg side and takes a single of the last ball to retain strike.

ten Doeschate to O Shah, Shah works it down the leg side and takes a couple this time to get off the mark.

ten Doeschate to O Shah, Shah defends it off the back foot.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Driven through the off side by Wright and he takes a single to give the new batsman strike.

Owais Shah walks out to the middle. England are off to a flying start and the stage is set for the middle order to get going.

ten Doeschate to R Bopara, OUT! Finally then! Bopara lofts that high in the air. The ball goes in the long-on region and taken by Seelaar. England have lost their first wicket.

ten Doeschate to R Bopara, Driven through the leg side by Bopara. Two runs added to the total.

England reach 100 and that is a century stand for both the openers as they haven't lost a wicket yet. Both Bopara and Wright are going great guns here.

P Borren to L Wright, FOUR! Wright comes down the track and connects the ball well to hit that straight back. The ball races to the boundary. Safe shot.

P Borren to L Wright, Wright has flicked the ball off his pads and the ball is in the deep on the leg side. The batsmen come back for the second.

P Borren to R Bopara, Bopara drives through the covers again and they take a single.

P Borren to R Bopara, Bopara drives straight to the extra-cover fielder. Poor effort by Bunge to save runs for his team. That went straight through his legs. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs as a result.

P Borren to L Wright, Pushed to the cover region by Wright. One run added to the total.

P Borren to R Bopara, Driven through the off side by Bopara and the batsmen take a run.

Excellent start here for the England side. The openers are doing the job for them at the moment having added 89 runs in the first 10 overs.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Top edge! Slower ball and Wright tries hitting that out of the park. The ball is in the air but again lands safely. Two runs conceded.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, The bowler drops a touch short outside the off; Wright has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Wright has lofted that over mid wicket this time. Two runs added to the total.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Punched off the backfoot by Wright. Two runs added to the total.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, FOUR! Full length delivery outside the off; Wright takes the aerial route over covers. The ball quickly races to the boundary.

ten Doeschate to R Bopara, Driven through the off side by Bopara and they scamper through for a single.

Ryan ten Doeschate comes back in the attack. He needs to bring in his experience here.

P Seelaar to R Bopara, Driven through the off side by Bopara. The batsmen are through for a single.

P Seelaar to R Bopara, FOUR! Fuller outside the off and driven through the covers by Bopara. That ball just rocketed off to the fence. What a shot by Bopara!

P Seelaar to R Bopara, Driven through the covers by Bopara. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs.

P Seelaar to L Wright, Once again a flighted delivery on the middle; played straight in the long-off region for a single.

P Seelaar to R Bopara, Bopara has driven it through the off side. One run added to the total.

P Seelaar to R Bopara, Flighted outside the off; carved through the point region for a couple of runs.

P Borren to L Wright, Played through mid-wicket by Wright. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs of the last ball.

P Borren to L Wright, Wide and Four! The ball is way wide on the leg side but Wright still goes after it Five wides signalled by Umpire Silva.

P Borren to R Bopara, Slower delivery on the middle; Bopara turns it away on the leg side. One run added to the total.

P Borren to L Wright, Full length delivery outside the off; Wright hits that straight back. The long-on cuts it off at the fence and the batsmen take a single.

P Borren to R Bopara, Bopara flicks it away with a wristy shot. One run added to the total.

P Borren to L Wright, Pushed to the cover region by Wright. The batsmen are through for a single again.

P Borren to R Bopara, Driven through the off side by Bopara and they take a single.

Peter Borren comes in to bowl for the first time.

P Seelaar to L Wright, Played to the point region by Wright and this one goes straight to the men there. End of the over.

P Seelaar to R Bopara, Bopara works it down the leg side and takes an easy single.

P Seelaar to L Wright, Wright has flicked the ball off his pads for a nice and easy single this time as well.

P Seelaar to R Bopara, Driven through the leg side by Bopara. The batsmen have run through for a single.

P Seelaar to L Wright, Played through mid-wicket by Wright and the batsmen scamper through for a single.

P Seelaar to L Wright, Wright drives through the covers but finds the fielder here.

Spin for the first time and Pieter Seelar comes in the attack.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Driven through the covers by Wright and only a single to complete the over. End of the fielding restrictions as well.

E Schiferli to L Wright, FOUR! Punched off the backfoot by Wright and he finds the gap again. The ball has rocketed off to the fence. Excellent start for the hosts.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Full toss this time and Wright plays the slog sweep. Stays in the air for a while but lands safely. The batsmen run through for a couple.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Yorker length delivery and played through mid-wicket by Wright. The fielder is placed in the deep and hence only a couple of runs.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Played through mid-wicket by Wright but straigh to the fielder this time.

E Schiferli to L Wright, FOUR! Fuller delivery outside the off and Wright just lofts it over mid off. In-field cleared and the ball reaches the fence easily.

ten Doeschate to R Bopara, FOUR! Short and wide outside the off and Bopara plays the Square-Cut. The ball has crossed the ropes. Nice way to end the over.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Wright has driven it straight down the ground but will only find a single before the fielder gets there.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Wright gets a leading edge on that one but the ball lands safely. Good ball by the bowler.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Defended nicely off the front foot by Wright.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Wright has lofted it over Mid-on and the ball was in the air for a while but the fielder is unable to reach there. The batsmen take a couple of runs.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Another wide! Wright tries flicking a ball that is wide on the leg stumps. Umpire Davis has signalled a wide.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Wright has driven it straight down the ground.

ten Doeschate to L Wright, Wright tries flicking a ball that is wide on the leg stumps. Umpire Davis signals a wide.

Ryan ten Doeschate come as a first change in bowling.

E Schiferli to R Bopara, Bopara has driven it straight down the ground. No run to end the 4th over.

E Schiferli to R Bopara, FOUR! Full on the middle and Bopara has lofted that over mid wicket. The ball races to the boundary. That was a super-shot by Bopara. He looks in great touch.

E Schiferli to R Bopara, Bopara has played it to the point region but finds the fielder this time.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Driven through the off side by Wright for a single.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Wright has driven it straight down the ground this time. The bowler gets a hand to it and diverts it to the mid-on fielder.

E Schiferli to R Bopara, Bopara has flicked the ball off his pads for a single of the leg side.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Just a touch short outside the off and Bopara has played it to the point region. The batsmen take a single of the last ball.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara works it down the leg side. Spirited effort by Schiferli to save runs for his team. Two runs conceded this time.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. Excellent delivery by the bowler.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara would have needed a ladder to play at that. Wide signalled by Umpire Davis.

D Nannes to L Wright, Wright has flicked the ball off his pads and they quickly cross for a single.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the backfoot. One run added to the total.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara defends it off the back foot this time. No run for the taking.

E Schiferli to R Bopara, Bopara drives the ball straight down the ground. The batsmen have run through for a single of the last ball.

E Schiferli to R Bopara, Played through mid-wicket by Bopara. The batsmen have picked up a couple of runs.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Wright has driven it through the off side and the batsmen cross through for a quick single.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Defended nicelu off the back foot by Wright. No run possible this time.

E Schiferli to L Wright, Wright shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the backfoot.

E Schiferli to L Wright, FOUR! This one was on the pads and Wright has flicked the ball on the leg side. The ball races to the boundary.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Driven through the covers by Bopara but an excellent save by the fielder there to save a definite boundary. End of the over.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Defended well off the back foot by Bopara.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara tries flicking a ball that is wide on the leg stumps. Umpire Davis signals a wide.

D Nannes to R Bopara, FOUR! Played to the point region by Bopara. The ball has crossed the ropes. Four runs has been signalled by Umpire Davis.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara plays the Square-Cut but finds the fielder this time.

D Nannes to R Bopara, Bopara chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump.

D Nannes to R Bopara, FOUR! Excellent start! Played to the point region by Bopara and he finds the gap straight away. The ball has crossed the ropes. Umpire Davis signals four runs.

The openers are making their way to the middle. It will be Luke Wright and Ravi Bopara as expected for England. Dirk Nannes has the new ball and he will start from the Nursery End. Here comes the first ball of the World T20 2009...

The Umpires for the game are Asoka De Silva and Steve Davis.

The big news is that Kevin Pietersen and Graeme Swann are not playing today for England. Robert Key and Adil Rashid get a chance to play here in place of them.

Both the skippers were out in the middle and it was the first toss of the tournament. Netherlands won the toss and they decided to bowl first.

The conditions are still quite overcast but the good thing is that it is not raining. We also have some good drainage system at the Lords which helps the play to start quickly.

Right then, after all that delay due to rain the match is finally set to begin and it will be a complete 20 over game. The Opening Ceremony was canceled to get the game underway on time.

Netherlands have won the toss and will field first. The stage is set for the main event to get underway after the dress rehearsals as England take on Netherlands in the opening match of the World T20 2009 at Lord's. It's been a long build up to the summer for an English side which played the West Indies away and then at home but a good one as far as their performances go. Their players would be feeling confident heading into the series on the back of 6 wins and momentum as they say is key to a T20 tournament. Players like Bopara, Shah, Wright and Pietersen have found form at the best possible time with Anderson and Broad coming into their own with the ball and clearly they are favourites to start with a win. But their opponents, Netherlands would surely be hoping to change the script as they have a few strong players in Dirk Nannes and Ryan ten Doeschate. Alexei Kervezee and Bas Zuiderent showed they can play their part, displaying a supreme batting performance against Scotland. If they can put in a strong all round performance we should have a cracker of a game. Join us as we bring you all the action.