Cricket’s rich history of thrilling upsets was given another chapter as Netherlands sensationally beat England by four wickets in the opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord’s. Needing seven off the last over Ryan ten Doeschate and Edgar Schiferli ran for their lives and with two needed off the last delivery, Stuart Broad missed a run-out from his follow through and the resulting overthrow set off wild scenes of celebration.

The opening ceremony was cancelled, the sky was grey and Kevin Pietersen was missing from the England line-up, but the ICC World Twenty20 spluttered into life at Lord’s as the hosts reached 162 for 5 against Netherlands. Luke Wright continued his good form with 71 off 49 balls, and formed an opening stand of 102 with Ravi Bopara, although Netherlands did well to keep England to a reasonable total as they held their nerve with the ball.

When Wright and Bopara were in full flow England were on target for something approaching 200, but they lost 5 for 51 during the second half of the innings and missed the hitting power of Pietersen - ruled out with a recurrence of his Achilles injury - as Netherlands gave a good account of themselves. The only blemishes in the field were a couple of misfields by Daan van Bunge and a tough drop by left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar when Wright crunched one straight back at him.

After rain delayed the start by 20 minutes, Bopara began the tournament in fine style as he square-drove the first ball from Dirk Nannes through point for a boundary and repeated the dose three balls later. Nannes, with his county and IPL experience, was expected to be the main threat to England but his opening two overs were seen off comfortably.

Bopara and Wright steadily increased the tempo with both players having similar roles as against West Indies the other day. Bopara was the more classical while Wright often resorted to brute force as he tried to bludgeon boundaries. After six overs England were strongly placed on 51 without loss as their 12th opening partnership in 17 Twenty20 internationals suggested they are worth sticking with.

The century partnership was brought up in the 11th over before Bopara departed trying to launch Ryan ten Doeschate over long-on. However, the opening stand of 102 equalled England’s best partnership in Twenty20 alongside the effort by Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah against New Zealand, in Christchurch, last year.

Bopara’s departure stalled England’s momentum as Shah picked out deep-square leg as he tried to flick Edgar Schiferli over the ropes and Eoin Morgan found point as he attempted one of his extravagant reverse hits. Boundaries dried up for England, except for a thumping lofted cover-drive by Wright off Nannes, as the home side’s target came down from around 200 to nearer 160.

Wright was now trying to smash everything to the boundary as the innings drew to a close, but the ball after a deft scoop over fine leg he located deep midwicket to give ten Doeschate his second scalp. Collingwood came and went for 11 as he chipped to long-on and boundaries were few and far between at the death against Seelaar and the rapid Nannes.

Netherlands kept England to 73 runs off the second 10 overs and only four boundaries came in the second half of the innings and there wasn’t a single six. The hosts should have enough, but the minnows haven’t been overawed.