ICC World Twenty20: Pride drives the Netherlands in Super-10

The Netherlands will take pride from being the only Associate team to make the Super-10 stage of the World Twenty20 as they prepare to step up their game, captain Peter Borren said Sunday.

The Netherlands upset the odds through an exhilarating 190-run chase in their Group B game against Ireland.

They are now gearing up to take on world T20 number one Sri Lanka in their opening Group One match on Monday.

"We are very proud of the fact that we are representing the Associates here now," said Borren. "We hope that we can do the Associates proud.

"It's an achievement in itself that we are the only Associate to have made it this far and that is very satisfying.

"For us we've had a pretty tough few months. Having failed to qualify in New Zealand we are not quite sure what the ICC (International Cricket Council) are going to do moving forward," said Borren. (Also read: T20s are fine but Associate Members need more of ODIs)

His team failed to qualify for the 2015 50-over World Cup to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

With regard to the T20 championships, Borren sees a potential plus in the fact that the Netherlands are the underdogs.

"Having nothing to lose in Twenty20 can make you very dangerous. We've got some players who can -- in that situation where we have nothing to lose, like the other night (against Ireland) -- be dangerous.

"Hopefully we can put up a couple of good performances with that attitude."

The captain said he relishes playing alongside top teams.

"It was a euphoric evening. We now we have a job to do. We watched Sri Lanka, they were very good against South Africa. They are a top team, as every team in this group is. It's going to be very competitive."

The Netherlands famously beat the hosts in the World Twenty20 in England in 2009, but Borren said that memory was starting to face.

"It was a while ago that we beat England. It would be good to come here on the big stage -- we made a bit of a splash against Ireland the other night - and we would really like to knock over a full member over the next few games."

South Africa, England and New Zealand are the other teams in Group One, with the top two teams qualifying for the semis.