Buttler and Willey

England prove too strong for much-improved Netherlands

Buttler and Willey

No record total, but England still too strong

While there was no record run total like in the opening game of the series, England still had too much class to record a comfortable six-wicket victory over Netherlands in a rain-reduced clash in Amstelveen.

A wet outfield saw the match reduced to 41 overs per side and it looked like being all one-way traffic early as England quickly reduced the hosts to 36/3 in the 10th over.

But Netherlands captain Scott Edwards ensured it wasn't a one-sided affair with a classy knock that allowed the hosts to post a competitive score of 235/7.

Edwards produces captain's knock for Netherlands

With regular captain Pieter Seelaar battling a back problem and announcing his immediate retirement, the improving Dutch side needed someone to stand up and Edwards did exactly that with a gritty knock.

The right hander batted sensibly with Bas de Leede (34) to put on 61 for the fourth wicket and then combined with Teja Nidamanuru (28) to add a further 73 for the fifth wicket as the hosts began to look comfortable against a world-class bowling line-up.

Edwards was eventually out on the last ball of the 35th over, but not before he had managed four boundaries and three massive sixes in a superb innings of 78 from just 73 deliveries.

While in the end it proved futile in relation to the overall result of the match, the knock was one of class and showed enough to suggest that Edwards and the Netherlands are on the improve.

150th ODI for Jos Buttler and 100th ODI for Jason Roy

Morgan's poor form a concern for England

There were a few worries in the run chase for England as Netherlands did manage to take four wickets to cause some panic, but the fact that star batter Jos Buttler was not required at all should show that the visitors always felt comfortable with proceedings.

Openers Phil Salt (77) and Jason Roy (73) got a half-century apiece, but skipper Eoin Morgan wasn't as lucky as he was out for a second consecutive duck when caught at backward point off the bowling of Tom Cooper.

It means Morgan now has just one score above 50 from his eight most recent ODI for his country and that may be causing selectors some concern ahead of next year's 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup in India.