It may not have had the significance of that World Twenty20 victory at Lord’s in 2009, but the Dutch side came back from a disappointing first day at the KARP Group Hong Kong Sixes with a splendid 14-run win against England in their Plate semi-final on Sunday.

Peter Borren’s team will now face Australia, who had earlier beaten India by 16 runs, in the Plate Final.

Put in to bat by England skipper Josh Cobb the Netherlands lost Stephan Myburgh, bowled by Tom Smith with the first ball of the game, but then reached 100 for two in their five overs, thanks to a 10-ball 31 from Alexei Kervezei and an even more devastating 7-ball 31 not out from Mudassar Bukhari, who hit four sixes as he hammered the total up to three figures.

Kervezee put on exactly 50 in partnership with Michael Swart, and then Bukhari and Borren ensured that England were chasing a comparatively daunting target.

In all the Dutch batsmen hit eleven sixes, and the bowlers then restricted England to just five, leaving their opponents on 86 for one at the finish.

Borren was the most economical, conceding only 13 from his over, but with Kervezee going for 15 and Bukhari for 15 it was a fine team effort which saw the Dutch home.

Smith (28 not out) and Cobb (31 not out) put on an unbeaten 50 after Chris Nash had been run out for 19, but those tight middle overs kept the Dutch on top and saw them through to their clash with Australia later on Sunday.