EAST LONDON, South Africa, 17 February 2003 — James Anderson’s career-best One-Day International haul of four for 25 set up a six-wicket win over The Netherlands as England finally got their World Cup campaign underway here at Buffalo Park yesterday.

Anderson’s wickets helped restrict The Netherlands to 142 for nine from 50 overs and completed a remarkable year for the 20-year-old Lancashire fast bowler, England’s find of the Ashes series.

“I came here 12 months ago with Lancashire on a preseason tour. It’s been a fantastic year — I had a good summer, then the academy and now the World Cup,” said Anderson.

For England captain Nasser Hussain there was just relief at getting started after the team chose to boycott Thursday’s opener against Zimbabwe in Harare and so forfeited the four points on offer for a win to the Africans.

“It was a good workout for us and nice to get some cricket under our belts at last,” Hussain said.

Although England made harder work than they should have done of reaching their victory target, a pair of stylish 51s from Michael Vaughan and Nick Knight were the cornerstones of a win that came with more than 25 overs to spare.

“Getting the runs in 23 overs was also good and it was important to get the run-rate beefed up because I think it will come down to that in this group,” Hussain added.

But the Netherlands, beaten by India in their opener, could take heart from middle-order batsman Tim de Leede’s unbeaten 58 and part-time leg-spinner Daan van Bunge’s return of three for 16. Netherlands captain Roland Lefebvre said they had fallen short of a competitive total.

However, he was pleased the innings went all the way — something which should worry England as they prepare to face stronger batting line-ups.

“I would have preferred a score of 220,” former Somerset fast bowler Lefebvre admitted. “We never really got going early on and it’s harder when you are five or six wickets down.

“But we batted for 50 overs which is pleasing and it’s all part of a learning curve.”

Hussain, meanwhile, defended his attack: “We lack a killer player like Brett Lee but we do have great discipline.”

After a steady start, Anderson struck in the sixth over when he had van Bunge caught in the gully by Craig White for four.

His second victim came in the 10th over when left-hander Luke van Troost played across the line and was lbw for eight.

The Netherlands’ problems got worse when, on 31, they lost three wickets for no runs in 10 balls.

Bas Zuiderent (2), who has played for Sussex, then chipped Anderson straight to Hussain at mid-off.

Two balls later Klaus van Noortwijk went for a duck, caught by diving wicketkeeper Alec Stewart down the legside.

Anderson’s county colleague Andrew Flintoff then had One-Day International debutant Nick Statham lbw for seven.

But de Leede hit back with some well-struck boundaries, his fifty coming off 72 balls.

White, playing despite a recurrence of the side strain that ended his Ashes tour, got through 10 overs, taking two for 22.

England’s reply got off to a poor start when Marcus Trescothick was bowled by Edgar Schiferli for 12 as he advanced down the track.

But a second-wicket stand of 89 between Knight and Vaughan ruled out any hopes of an upset before Vaughan fell to van Bunge.

Two balls later Flintoff was caught off the spinner for a duck and van Bunge later snared Knight with England 126 for four.

But Ian Blackwell (22 not out) and Paul Collingwood (five not out) finished the game. (AFP)