England registered a thrilling six-wicket victory over the Netherlands in a Group B match and averted what could have been been the first upset of the World Cup on Tuesday.

- Scorecard

Chasing 293 for victory, England completed the win with eight balls to spare.

Earlier, Ryan ten Doeschate's maiden World Cup century powered the Netherlands to an astonishing 292 for six wickets.

The 30-year-old South Africa-born right-hander hit three sixes and nine fours in his 110-ball 119 that was the cornerstone of the Netherlands's innings at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.

Ten Doeschate added 78 runs with Tom Cooper (47), 64 with Tom de Grooth (28) and 61 with skipper Peter Borren (35 not out) to set a target that should be quite a test for England's tweaked batting order.

After Borren had opted to set a target rather than chasing one, openers Alexei Kervezee (16) and Wesley Barresi (29) looked quite at ease against the English pacers before change bowlers collaborated with stumper Matt Prior to remove both.

Barresi, having hit three fours off Stuart Broad's third over, top edged a Tim Bresnan delivery and Kervezee fell to Prior's sharp stumping in Graeme Swann's first over.

Ten Doeschate ensured there was no panic in the Dutch camp.

He offered dogged resistance in the company of former Australia under-19 player Cooper, consolidated the innings with his smart association with de Grooth before providing the late charge with Borren.

Borren was fortunate to be called back despite being bowled by Broad as England had just three players inside the circle in that powerplay over.

England's chase got off to a resounding start with Andrew Strauss (88) and Kevin Pietersen (39) providing a rollicking 105-run stand before they lost four wickets to find themselves in a spot of bother.

Andrew Strauss (88, 83 balls, 9x4) played an out of character innings while Kevin Pietersen (39, 61 balls, 5x4) looked scratchy in between some good shots. It was Strauss who made full use of the fielding restrictions as England scored 100 runs in 17 overs.

The England captain scored his 27th ODI half century off 34 balls with the help of nine boundaries.

Pietersen was the first to depart when he was caught by Holland skipper Peter Borren at short cover off the bowling of left-arm spinner Pieter Seelaar.

Strauss and Jonathan Trott (62, 65 balls, 4x4) then consolidated the innings adding 61 runs for the second wicket.

Strauss then mistimed a pull shot off Mudassar Bukhari's bowling to gift a catch to Tom Cooper stationed at square leg.

Trott and Ian Bell (33) didn't take too many risks in the middle overs and added 58 runs in 10.5 overs.

Ten Doeschate once again came to the rescue of his team as he struck at the start of the batting Powerplays with Wesley Barresi effecting a brilliant stumping to send back Trott.

If that wasn't enough, he cleaned up Bell in the 43rd over to get his second victim. But Bopara (30) and Collingwood (30) then helped England script the third successful runchase in World Cup history.

Paul Collingwood's experience and Ravi Bopara's improvisation came in handy as England survived some torrid times before completing the tricky chase in the penultimate over.

"We got the result we wanted ... we just need to be a bit more consistent at putting in good performances over the 100 overs altogether. Sometimes we're letting each other down. We've just got to pull our socks up and get on with it," said England's Jonathan Trott.