Bertus de Jong 21/06/2024
Four weeks into the wettest season in recent memory we’re still a deal earlier in the competition than we might have hoped, with barely half the scheduled matches thus far actually having been played. The table, consequently, is a trifle messy, and the current pecking order in no small part a reflection of luck with the weather rather than performance.
Current table-toppers HBS Craeyenhout have amassed a total of five points on a 2-1 record plus the point they reluctantly took from the not-uncontroversial wash-out at de Diepput last week, where point were shared owing to HCC having already reached their two match rescheduling limit. They take on Excelsior ‘20 away at Thurlede, the Schiedammers fresh off their first win of the season having held off a spirited VOC fightback last week. That win was set up through the efforts of Jason Ralston with the new ball and Niels Etman at the back end, and as a bowling unit Excelsior look to be coming together nicely though the batting remains a worry. A full strength HBS, with Wes Barresi and Kyle Klein back from the World Cup, will be optimistic about holding on to the top spot for another week at least.
Defending champions Voorburg will likewise be welcoming reinforcements in the form of Vivian Kingma and Michael Levitt, and having gotten through the early season without their internationals with just the one loss will be bullish about their chances of defending their title. They won’t be welcoming back former skipper Sybrand Engelbrecht however, who called time on his cricketing sabbatical last week to concentrate on his career. They take on a Punjab-Ghausia side that may be a little rattled by their shock loss to Sparta last week, but still look capable of providing a stern test for the title-holders despite a disappointing 2-2- record thus far.
Meanwhile the only two unbeaten teams in the competition, HCC and VRA, will meet at de Diepput in hopes of getting a game played where others have failed. HCC are unbeaten thanks in no small part to three abandonments, but even under-strength looked in decent shape in the one game they did get in at Thurlede, young Teun Leijer again impressing with the ball. VRA meanwhile have bagged two wins already despite the absence of internationals Vikram Singh and Teja Nidamanuru, and will back themselves to make it three from three this weekend. An interesting question will be whether Singh returns to his customary opening slot or sticks with the number three role he’s been occupying for the Dutch, allowing the promising experiment of Demari Prince at the top with Shirase Rasool to run a little longer.
Over at Hazelaarweg VOC Rotterdam will welcome their second consecutive delegation from Schiedam in the form of Hermes DVS, but will be hoping for a different outcome from their valiant defeat at the hands of Excelsior. The newly-promoted Hermes already look a handful however, and with the return of Aryan Dutt from national duty could reasonably claim to be favourites. The batting card still looks a tad top-heavy, reliant on Daniel Doyle Calle in particular, but then a dependence on an in-form top order is probably preferable than looking to the lower order to dig you out of trouble, as VOC had to last week. The brothers Jain almost pulled off a remarkable recovery last week, and if the top order finds form the Bloodhounds will boast enviable depth, but another home defeat will make a top-four finish a tall order.
The round’s final fixture pits ACC against Sparta 1888 at Bermweg, and the outcome already looks like it could be crucial to an impending relegation fight. The Amsterdammers especially look destined for a fight to stay up, and with two heavy defeats already weighing down their NRR taking points off Sparta looks almost indispensable to their hopes of top-flight survival. The hosts will be firm favourites however, showing admirable resolve to fight back from 4-40 to put a score of sorts on the board against Punjab before the ever-impressive Khalid Ahmadi and last year’s Team of the Year skipper Martijn Snoep showed their worth with the ball to take two points from a rain-shortened match against Punjab. Indeed on paper the Spartans ought to be at least in contention for a top four spot this season, and a second win might just get their season back on track. Conversely a home loss to the unfancied ACC, one suspects, could send it into a tailspin.
BdJ’s picks: HBS, VCC, VRA, Hermes, Sparta
TKcricket 