The Netherlands Lions levelled their 50-over series against the England Performance Programme in Pune on Friday with a magnificent run chase which saw them home with four wickets in hand and 22 deliveries to spare.

The heroes of the day were Alexei Kervezee and Tim Gruijters, whose 137-run partnership for the third wicket, compiled in fewer than 23 overs, laid the foundation for their side’s successful pursuit of an imposing English total of 261 for six.

They had come together at 62 for two, after Stephan Myburgh and Michael Swart had started the chase in comparatively cautious fashion, but with Gruijters giving him excellent support Kervezee went after the bowling, his 96 coming from just 92 deliveries with 11 fours and a six.

Gruijters made a 66-ball 52, hitting five boundaries, before the partnership was broken by Ben Stokes, who with four for 48 was the most effective of the English bowlers. Kervezee followed in Stokes’s next over, and at 211 for four the victory was still far from secure.

It seemed that the English were getting back on top when Peter Borren and Tom de Grooth departed in quick succession, but Daan van Bunge was again solid in the middle order, and once he was joined by Wesley Barresi the remaining runs were posted without further loss.

Van Bunge made 29 not out from 27 deliveries with four boundaries, while Barresi, despite having been unwell overnight, thumped two fours and a six in his 11-ball cameo of 16.

It was a notable victory, and one which had seemed unlikely when the English batsmen were going along at better than five an over.

Paul van Meekeren did some early damage, bowling Virun Chopra for 5 and Michael Lumb for 19 to reduce the England Performance Programme to 36 for two, but Gary Ballance (40) and skipper Craig Kieswetter (63) fought back with a third-wicket stand of 75.

Then Stokes took over, smashing six sixes and four fours in a 41-ball unbeaten knock of 69, and ensuring that his side got past the 250 mark.

Van Meekeren’s two wickets in nine overs cost just 34 runs, while Swart claimed two for 45 and there was a wicket apiece for Gruijters and for Ashan Malik Jamil.