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England are taking no chances as they prepare for tomorrow's opening World Cup match against the Netherlands in Nagpur – right down to refusing to play ball with the Dutch when it comes to virtual cricket.

Andrew Strauss's team need no reminding that the men in orange caused major embarrassment by beating them in a World Twenty20 game at Lord's in 2009 and they are determined there will be no repeat in the 50-over format – so determined that, according to the Dutch, cheeky requests to borrow video footage of Jimmy Anderson and Co have been rejected.

"The funny thing is there is a new practice facility called 'ProBatter' with a hole in the screen where the ball pops out from footage [of various bowlers so batsmen in the nets feel like they are facing the real thing]," said Netherlands team manager Ed van Nierop. "The boys really like that the England team management refused to give us the footage of the England bowlers, so they must be a little afraid of us!"

What England must be, of course, is respectful. And they are, insists Matt Prior. "Netherlands are a team you absolutely cannot be complacent against," said the keeper-batsman. "We've seen what happened in the past and we don't want that to happen again."

A few weeks ago, Prior was expected to watch the World Cup from home. Then, having been recalled to the one-day squad at the last minute instead of Steve Davies, he seemed certain to open the batting. Now, with Kevin Pietersen promoted to the top of the order, Prior is being cast as England's "finisher" – the middle-order batsman with the responsibility for seeing the team to a big total or guiding them to a target.

"The middle overs in this World Cup are going to be very important, playing the spin and with the seam bowlers using a lot of cutters and slower balls – trying to manipulate the ball around," said Prior. "It is going to be hard, but playing on the subcontinent is something I feel confident about, so I'm looking forward to it.

"The minute anyone says the word 'finisher', you panic a little bit and think: 'That's a lot of responsibility.' But I love being a part of a team, and you want to be a cog in the wheel and one of those that wins games and helps set up games.

"Being a 'finisher' gives you the responsibility, and I enjoy that. I don't think Eoin Morgan's boots can be filled – he's a phenomenal player – but I'll certainly try my best."

If Prior could pick his own position it might not be six. But he knows he cannot – so will continue to give it his best shot, wherever he is deployed. "I've always thought opening suited my game better," he said. "But the way the last couple of games have gone I've found a tempo I'm very comfortable with.

"I don't think, opening, I managed to get that tempo ever – which was hugely frustrating, because I know that if I get that tempo right I can be very, very successful. Right now, this role is suiting me – and I feel very comfortable in it."

Prior averages only 25 in ODIs, compared to almost 43 in Tests. "People throw stats around and say your one-day stats aren't that good," he said "They aren't. But I'm working very hard to improve them."

Labels: Avoiding, Dutch, England, Independent, preview, refuse, sneak, upset

* South American duo give Benfica victory

* Ajax thrash Anderlecht, Twente beat Rubin

* Leverkusen overwhelm Metalist Kharkiv

By Brian Homewood

BERNE, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Benfica scored twice in the final 20 minutes to beat visitors VfB Stuttgart 2-1 in their Europa League last 32 tie on Thursday while Dutch sides Ajax Amsterdam and Twente Enschede enjoyed impressive away wins.

Ajax won 3-0 at Anderlecht in their first leg while Twente were among several teams who endured freezing conditions in eastern Europe, beating Rubin Kazan 2-0 in Moscow where the temperature hovered around minus 15 Celsius during the game.

Stuttgart’s impressive European form has been in marked contrast to their shaky Bundesliga performances this season and Martin Harnik gave them a first-half lead in Lisbon.

But Benfica hit back as Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo, one of eight South Americans in their starting lineup, levelled in the 70th minute and Argentine Franco Jara grabbed the winner with nine minutes left.

Ajax made light of Luis Suarez’s absence—the Uruguay forward having been sold to Liverpool in the January transfer window—as Tony Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Mounir El Hamdaoui shared the goals at Anderlecht.

Late strikes from Twente’s Luuk de Jong, standing in for injured forward Marc Janko, and captain Peter Wisgerhof gave the Dutch side their win in Russia.

Bayer Leverkusen also had to contend with bitter conditions in Ukraine as they thumped Metalist Kharkiv 4-0.

Eren Derdiyok and Gonzalo Castro scored either side of halftime before Sidney Sam got two more for the Bundesliga side.

Metalist’s compatriots Dynamo Kiev enjoyed contrasting fortune as they won 4-1 at Besiktas with former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko among the scorers.

(Editing by Ken Ferris; To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Benfica, Dutch, Reuters, snatch, victory

AMSTERDAM (AP)—Ajax lost ground in its bid to win the club’s first Dutch league title in seven years after missing a late penalty in a 2-2 draw at Roda JC on Sunday.

The visitors were awarded a spot kick in the 88th minute, but striker Mounir El Hamdaoui missed his attempt.

Ajax led 1-0 when Miralem Sulejmani latched onto a pass from Christian Eriksen to score after 13 minutes, and teammate Siem de Jong doubled the lead in the 34th.

But Roda hit back with Mads Junker’s goal seven minutes later and Anouar Hadouir, playing in his 200th league match, equalized with a free kick in the 82nd.

PSV Eindhoven and FC Twente both won Saturday to share the lead in the standings, five points ahead of third-place Ajax.

SC Heerenveen boosted its Europa League chances with a 2-0 win over NAC Breda. Luciano Narsingh scored in the 60th minute and created the other for Oussama Assaidi in the 82nd.

Niki Zimling’s two second-half goals sealed NEC Nijmegen’s 2-0 win over Excelsior Rotterdam, while FC Groningen drew 1-1 at De Graafschap.

On Saturday, it was: ADO The Hague 3, VVV-Venlo 0; Willem II 3, FC Utrecht 3; Twente 1, Vitesse Arnhem 0; Feyenoord 2, Heracles Almelo 1 and AZ Alkmaar 0, PSV 4.

Labels: Dutch, league

AMSTERDAM (AP)—Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has pulled out of the Netherlands squad for its friendly against Austria on Wednesday after going down with ‘flu.

The Netherlands Football Union said Monday coach Bert van Marwijk called up FC Twente forward Luuk de Jong to replace Van Persie.

The Arsenal striker’s absence is the latest setback for Van Marwijk. On Saturday, midfielders Rafael van der Vaart of Tottenham and Nigel de Jong of Manchester City pulled out with injuries.

No replacement was called up for Van der Vaart or De Jong, who was set to make his international return after being dropped for three matches for a tackle that left Newcastle player Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg.

World Cup runner-up the Netherlands plays Austria in Eindhoven.

Labels: Dutch, friendly, Persie, pulls, Robin, squad

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk recalled Nigel de Jong in a 22-man squad for the friendly against Austria on Wednesday in Eindhoven.

De Jong was dropped from the squad in October last year after the Manchester City midfielder’s tackle left Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg in a Premier League game.

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Michel Vorm (Utrecht)

Defenders: Urby Emanuelson (AC Milan), John Heitinga (Everton), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax Amsterdam), Peter Wisgerhof (Twente Enschede), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Theo Janssen (Twente Enschede), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Kevin Strootman (Utrecht)

Forwards: Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Ruud van Nistelrooy (SV Hamburg), Eljero Elia (Hamburg SV)

(Editing by Tim Castle/Kevin Fylan; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Austria, Dutch, Midfielder, named, Reuters, squad