The Netherlands began their 2012 Hong Kong Sixes campaign promisingly on Saturday with a 4-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, but then lost more comprehensively to India and Pakistan to finish bottom of Group B.

Not a single wicket fell in the clash between the Dutch and Sri Lanka, with the latter�s openers, Kusal Matharage Don and Chamara Kapugedera making 34 from eight deliveries and 36 from 11 respectively before they had to retire. Skipper Jehan Mubarak then contributed a 10-ball 27 as his side reached 107 from their five overs, with his opposite number Peter Borren the most economical of the Dutch bowlers, conceding just 14 from his over.

Stephan Myburgh and Alexei Kervezee responded in kind with 34 from 12 balls and 32 from nine, but even so 32 were needed from Kapugedera�s final over. Michael Swart made an heroic attempt, finishing with 26 from eight deliveries, but it was not quite enough to see the Netherlands to victory.

The bowlers had a happier time in the next game, with Mudassar Bukhari taking one for 7 in his over against India and Kervezee claiming one for 6, and with Dharmender Phagna making 31 and Dosti Amsterdam�s Amit Uniyal chipping in with 13 from three deliveries at the end, India reached a comparatively modest 69 for three.

The Dutch reply never really fired, with Neeraj Chauhan conceding only three in his over with the wicket of Myburgh, who had made 22 from seven deliveries, and with Uniyal and Phagna also keeping the scoring to single figures the Netherlands could only manage 60 for four.

Batting first in their final group game after Borren won the toss, the Dutch made 73 for four against Pakistan. Kervezee was the top scorer with 29 from eight deliveries and Swart made 24 from ten, but Pakistan�s Umar Akmal, Awais Zia and Kamran Akmal took just 20 deliveries to knock off the runs without losing a wicket.

The Netherlands will now play England, who finished third in Group A after losing to South Africa in their final group match, in one of the Plate semi-finals.