NAGPUR: Captain Andrew Strauss guided England to a six-wicket win by achieving a huge target set by the Netherlands in a Group B match of the World Cup here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground on Tuesday.
Chasing a difficult target of 293, England openers Strauss and Kevin Pietersen provided a solid start of 105 runs.
Strauss made 88 from 83 balls and Pietersen scored 39 while John Trott scored 62, adding 61 for the second wicket with Stauss.
Later, Trott and Ian Bell (33) made together 58 for the third wicket.
Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara made 30 runs each and added 54 runs of rthe unbeaten fifth wicket partnership to see England win their opening match in the tournament.
Earlier, a superb century by Ryan ten Doeschate powered the Netherlands to an astonishing total of 292 runs for six wickets against a strong England side after captain Peter Borren had won the toss and elected to bat first.
The 30-year-old South Africa-born right-hander hit three sixes and nine fours in his 110-ball 119 that was the cornerstone of the Netherlands's innings.
It was his fourth hundred in One-day Internationals and the first in the World Cup.
Ten Doeschate added 78 runs with Tom Cooper (47), 64 with Tom de Grooth (28) and 61 with skipper Peter Borren (35 not out) to set a target that should be quite a test for England's tweaked batting order.
Doeschate also claimed two wickets to earn the Man-of-the-Match award for his fine allround performance.
Earlier, The Dutch openers provided a bright start of 36 from only six overs but the English bowlers soon got rid off them..
Tim Bresnan got Alexei Kervezee caught behind for 16 when Netherlands were 36 and
Graeme Swann got Wesley Barresi stumped out for 29, again by wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Then, Ten Doeschate ensured there was no panic in the Dutch camp. He offered dogged resistance in the company of former Australia under-19 player Cooper, consolidated the innings with his smart association with de Grooth before providing the late charge with Borren
