NAGPUR, India - England captain Andrew Strauss hopes his side's unconvincing start to the World Cup will lull co-host India into a false sense of security for the blockbuster clash on Sunday.

The reigning World Twenty20 champion had just eight balls to spare in defeating the Netherlands by six wickets on Tuesday after a ragged bowling and fielding display that helped the Dutch notch 292 for six.

Essex all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate cashed in with a career-best 119 before England, led by Strauss, who scored 88, managed to avert a major upset to match its defeat at the hands of the Dutch at the 2009 World Twenty20.

"Hopefully India will take us lightly after this performance," Strauss said at the VCA Ground in Nagpur.

"We generally raise our games against better sides. We are very excited about playing India in Bangalore.

"There will be a great atmosphere and we will back ourselves to beat them," he said. India crushed co-host Bangladesh in its opener on Saturday.

But Strauss, who shared a century stand with new opening partner Kevin Pietersen, conceded England would have to improve its fielding display after a "shemozzle" against the Netherlands.

Asked if England's performance had been acceptable for the opening match of a World Cup, Strauss replied: "Certainly not. The first 50 overs was a very poor performance, and certainly the last 10 overs was exceptionally poor."

One of England's most inept moments was a reprieve for ten Doeschate on 47 when James Anderson and Pietersen let an outfield catch drop between.

There was also a no-ball called after England had too few men inside the circle, allowing Dutch captain Peter Borren to be recalled after being bowled by Stuart Broad.

"We were a little bit shell-shocked by what happened in those last 10 overs," Strauss said. "You can't afford to drop that many catches and we were pretty untidy on the ground as well.

"That meant Holland probably got 30 or 40 more than they should have done. We were way off where we want to be in the field.

"We came in very determined to start the tournament well. But it was one of those days in the field where everything seemed to go wrong."

As for the Borren blunder, Strauss said: "It was just a miscommunication.

"I said to Stuart Broad 'do you want a man out there?' and Paul Collingwood thought I said 'go out there'.

Strauss said ten Doeschate, who also took two wickets, deserved acclaim for his innings regardless of England's ineptitude.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/24/2011 page22)