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Collingwood rallies England after Dutch shock

England now have to beat Pakistan, finalists at the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago, if they are to avoid going out of this competition at the first round stage.

They had been well-placed at 102 for one against the Dutch but then lost several cheap wickets to finish on 162 for five.

But that still ought to have been enough. However some wayward bowling and fine Dutch batting - they scored four sixes to England’s none - allied to poor fielding saw the Netherlands win off the last ball when they scrambled a two after fast bowler Stuart Broad missed with a shy at the stumps.

“The boys are very disappointed but we have to bounce back, it’s as simple as that,” said Collingwood.

“We’re still in the tournament, we have 24 hours to get our heads around it and we have to play a hell of a lot better on Sunday.

“Pakistan are obviously a very good side. They got to the final of the last Twenty20 World Cup, they’re very skilful and we’re going to have to be at our very, very best to beat that side but we can do it.”

England were without Kevin Pietersen, whose boundary-hitting ability was something Collingwood said was missed against the Dutch, after the South Africa born shotmaker suffered a recurrence of his Achilles injury.

But England hope to have him back against Pakistan and, even without Pietersen, Collingwood said a win at the the Oval was not out of the question.

“We’re obviously not going to take any major risks because we’ve all got a big year ahead of us, but this is now a must-win game for us on Sunday and if he’s fit he’ll be playing.”

“It’s not out of the realms of possibility that we can win,” he said.

Meanwhile Collingwood paid tribute to the way in which the Netherlands had upset the odds in scoring four sixes to England’s none in finishing on 163 for six in reply to the hosts 162 for five.

“We thought we had enough runs on the board but they came out and played with plenty of freedom and belief,” reflected Collingwood.

“The way they knocked the runs off was mightily impressive. We were beaten by the better side. Full credit to them.

“Their batting did surprise us. The way they went about their cricket was well planned. Every time we got a wicket we thought we were on top but every batsman that came out seemed to score boundaries from ball one.”

England also appeared to pay for playing novivce international leg-spinner Adil Rashid in preference to experienced off-spinner Graeme Swann in a match where they thought they could take, in the captain’s words, “a gamble”.

Collingwood tried to back-track on his remarks by adding: “We all know what Adil can do. It’s a gamble on experience but not on the skills he has got.”