- Netherlands shocked England by four wickets at Lord’s in the 2009 T20 World Cup
- Ryan ten Doeschate inspired one of cricket’s greatest World Cup upsets
- The Dutch chased 163 to seal a famous victory on the final ball
Cricket witnessed one of its most memorable upsets on this day in 2009 when Netherlands shocked England by four wickets in the opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord’s.
Chasing 163 for victory after England posted 162-5, the Dutch appeared to be facing an uphill battle before producing a dramatic late charge that stunned the home crowd and announced their arrival on the world stage.
Netherlands refuse to back down
The chase was built around a superb innings from Tom de Grooth, who top scored with 49 and kept Netherlands firmly in contention against a more fancied England side.
When de Grooth was dismissed with 47 runs still needed, the task looked increasingly difficult. The pressure intensified further after Peter Borren’s valuable 30 from 25 balls came to an end three overs later.
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Ten Doeschate leads the fightback
Ryan ten Doeschate refused to let the contest slip away. The all rounder produced a composed innings under pressure and guided Netherlands towards the target alongside Edgar Schiferli.
Their partnership ensured the Dutch remained within touching distance of a famous victory and by the start of the final over they required just seven runs.
Drama unfolds at Lord’s
The tension inside Lord’s reached fever pitch as the match headed towards a thrilling conclusion.
England were handed a chance to regain control when Stuart Broad was offered a catch by ten Doeschate. The opportunity went down and Netherlands seized the momentum.
With four needed from the final three deliveries, the visitors sensed history.
2009 T20 World Cup opener ends in unforgettable fashion
The match came down to the final ball with Netherlands requiring two runs to win.
Schiferli struck the ball firmly back towards Broad, who collected it in his follow through and attempted a run out with a throw at the stumps. The throw missed and the batters completed the winning run.
Netherlands finished on 163-6 to complete a remarkable four wicket victory and spark jubilant celebrations on the famous Lord’s outfield.
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A result that remains part of World Cup folklore
The victory remains one of the greatest upsets in ICC tournament history and a defining moment for Dutch cricket.
Netherlands later proved the result was no fluke. At the 2014 World T20 in Chattogram, they once again defeated England, this time by 45 runs, further strengthening their reputation as one of the game’s most dangerous giant killers.
More than a decade later, the unforgettable triumph at Lord’s remains a landmark achievement and one of the most cherished moments in Netherlands cricket history.
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