ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

England is four matches into Group B of the 2011 Cricket World Cup tournament, having won two, drawn one and lost one so far. This could have been predicted, but the way the results have come about would have fooled many punters.

England's first game was against the minnow Netherlands, and was one they were expected to win. But England should have known better than to approach this game as an easy win, especially after their 20/20 World Cup defeat to the same side.

Ryan ten Doeschate, who plays county cricket in England for Essex, nearly haunted England with an explosive 119 from 110 balls. He was ably supported by Tom Cooper (47) and Peter Borren (35 not out) in a total of 292-6.

England's fielding did their bowlers no favors as James Anderson went wicketless for 72 runs from 10 overs; Stuart Broad fared a bit better with 2-65, Tim Bresnan picked up 1-49, Paul Collingwood 1-46, but the pick of an ordinary bowling performance was Graeme Swann 2-35.

Chasing 293 to win, England did get their target with eight balls remaining with all the batsmen chipping in but none of them laying confident foundations to an easy win. Andrew Strauss top scored with 88, Jonathan Trott made 65, Kevin Pietersen, in his new role as an opener, hit 39 while Collingwood and Ravi Bopara saw England home with unbeaten 30's.

Man of the match, ten Doeschate, also picked up the best bowling figure of 2-47.

Next up for England was home nation India in Bangalore and what a game it was.

India batted first and compiled a very defendable 338 but would have wanted more, having been 305-3 in the 46th over. Sachin Tendulkar hitting 120 from 115 balls and Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir making 50's.

England bowled slightly better after their first game escape, but Bresnan was the pick with 5-48. Swann, Michael Yardy and James Anderson all picked up a wicket but were expensive.

Again, England batted well and Andrew Strauss outshined Tendulkar with a magnificent 158 from 145 balls. When Ian Bell (69) was with the captain, it seemed as if England had victory in their sights, but some good bowling gave India the advantage, with only some lower order hitting saving England as they ended 338-8.

Zaheer Khan was India's best bowler with figures of 3-64 as both sides gained a point.

On to a game almost everyone had pegged as an England win. A minnow nation again, this time in the form of Ireland.

England batted well for 40-odd overs before some complacency and a decent Irish fielding fightback left England on 327-8. John Mooney picking up 4-63, Trent Johnston 2-58 and a wicket each to Paul Stirling and George Dockrell.

At 111-5 halfway through their innings, not even the most optimistic Irish fan could have hoped for victory. In stepped Kevin O'Brien. The fastest 100 in Cricket World Cup history, beating Matthew Hayden's 100 from 66 balls against Zimbabwe with ease.

O'Brien was run out for 113 in a partnership of 162 with John Cusack (47) and lower order runs from John Mooney 30 not out saw Ireland home for a famous win with five balls to spare.

Swann bowled out early (3-47) while Paul Collingwood, Michael Yardy, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan all went at more than six runs per over.

A deflated England dragged themselves to their next match against a South Africa side which looked very good indeed.

Not many gave England a chance, especially after they posted only 171. Ravi Bopara made 60 and Jonathan Trott 52 as Imran Tahir, who plays his cricket for Warwickshire in England, ripped through the order with 4-38 in his first World Cup.

Robin Petersen took 3-22, Morne Morkel 2-16 and Dale Steyn 1-37 as England was 15-3 at one stage.

South Africa appeared to be coasting at 124-3, albeit on a slow pitch offering variable bounce and some turn.

It is not often South Africa collapses, whether it is the brilliance of the bowling they're facing or through pushing the self-destruct button, but it happened here and England somehow won by six runs.

Hashim Amla top scored with 42, AB de Villiers 25, Graeme Smith 22  and Steyn 20 as England carved out an unlikely victory.

While the bowling had let down the battling, at least to some extent in the first three games, this time it was the other way around with wickets from Stuart Broad who took 4-15, James Anderson 2-16, Swann 1-29, Tim Bresnan 1-27 and Michael Yardy 1-46.

Ahead of their next match with Bangladesh, Kevin Pietersen and Broad have been ruled out of the tournament through injury, with Chris Tremlett and Eoin Morgan being called up as replacements.

England has beaten South Africa, drawn with India and lost to Ireland, along with a narrow and nervy win over the Netherlands for a good mix. With games against Bangladesh and the West Indies to come, what other surprises does this World Cup have for England before the knockout stage, if they even make that?