Rod Lyall & Bertus de Jong | 17-06-2026
Just eight points apiece up for grabs now, with only three points separating first from fourth and fifth from eighth. From which you might conclude that (a) there are going to be quite a few four-pointers in the next three weeks, and (b) that there is, after all, a good deal to be said for the eight-team model. Teams should be back to full strength for this final run-in, and it’s all set to be an extremely interesting sprint down the home straight.
RL: For the second week in a row, leaders Rotterdam take on their nearest challengers, Voorburg having leap-frogged Kampong as a result of last Saturday’s matches. The visitors squeezed three points out of their two games without their internationals, and will be relieved to have skipper Noah Croes, openers Cedric de Lange and Michael Levitt, and middle-order batter Bas de Leede back in the side for what is certain to be their biggest challenge of the second half of the campaign. The sides’ previous meeting, of course, was that extraordinary 25-over game on 14 May, which produced 461 runs in 50 overs, including De Lange’s 63-ball 125, and the Rotterdammers’ first defeat of the season, and Sikander Zulfiqar’s side will be very keen indeed to avenge that defeat this time. Since then their already-powerful batting line-up has been strengthened by the advent of Abdul Rehman Niazi, and Voorburg’s bowlers will doubtless have their work cut out to contain the Rotterdammers’ top order, while their own, largely restored batters will have to deal with an extremely testing attack. In the absence of play-offs, this could well prove to be the match of the season.
BdJ: Indeed given the state of the table this looks the fixture most likely to prove decisive when the time comes to total up the points and dole out the silverware. After having to dip into the reserves over the last couple of weeks, Voorburg find themselves facing some tricky selection decisions now, with Waseem Mohsen having laid indisputable claim to his spot, Don Glover making runs last week and Tom de Leede also impressing on return. Conversely the international contingent are all a tad short of cricket, which of course is not a game one can reasonably expect to play at King City. De Lange nonetheless impressed after being thrown into the deepest of deep ends on ODI debut, and at full strength Voorburg are arguably the only side in the league that have batting to match the Rotterdammers. Questions remain about the bowling side of things for both sides however, with neither looking entirely sure of their best attack and, barring Saqib Zulfiqar and Jaynul Islam, both team’s front line attack rather upstaged by their part-timers. If Voorburg’s quicks can fire however, HCC’s seam section did show that RCC can be vulnerable early at home.
RL: Now in third place on net run rate and three points behind the leaders, HCC travel to the renamed Boudewijn Hoek Oval to face Hermes-DVS. Their hosts will perhaps be the happiest of all about the return of their internationals, who will add incisiveness to their attack and take some of the weight of run-scoring from the shoulders of David Rushmere, who carried the batting almost single-handed while they were away. The Sky Blues will have to face both Kampong and Voorburg before finishing their campaign against HBS, and they will breathe much easier if they are able to pick up two points here. HCC, however, have won six of their last eight games, and with a rejuvenated Tonny Staal scoring consistently at the top of the order and Boris Gorlee at his best against HBS last week, they will travel to Schiedam with plenty of confidence. We have repeatedly sung the praises of their attack, and even Rushmere will need to be in top form if Hermes are to have a chance.
BdJ: Hermes might be excused for wondering whether it was really necessary to deprive them of their captain and pace spearhead for the last two weeks given that Logan van Beek ended up getting flown in to play ahead of either of them, but will certainly be happy to welcome them back for what is indeed a must-win for them on Saturday. They’ll also be hoping Daniel Doyle-Calle’s ankle sprain won’t keep him out another week, and that what remains a formidable batting line up finally delivers on its potential. They’ll be coming up against an HCC seam attack that has consistently delivered, even in the absence of Hidde Overdijk. On form the hosts will start as underdogs on home turf, but may take comfort from the fact that despite their winning run HCC still have a losing record on grass this season.
RL: Straddling the gulf between top four and bottom four, the encounter in the Amsterdamse Bos is between VRA, for whom the priority is staying clear of the relegation zone, and Kampong, who cannot afford another defeat if they are to have a realistic chance of retaining their title. Centuries for both Sam Cassidy and Teja Nidamanuru against Hermes last week suggested that the Amsterdammers’ season is perhaps coming together despite the loss of Vikram Singh, and it was a bonus for them to see Sharad Hake getting among the wickets early. Kampong just squeezed home at Maarschalkerweerd on 14 May, and they will hope for a much greater contribution from their top order in this return match. It’s a fair bet that Max O’Dowd and Scott Edwards will find batting conditions in the Amsterdamse Bos a good deal more congenial than those in King City, and despite the four-point gap between the teams on the current table, this too seems likely to be a very even battle.
BdJ: VRA will doubtless be thankful that they were spared the loss of their skipper for the last couple of rounds, and doubtless Nidamanuru and Shariz Ahmad have been enjoying thier time at the Nordic Smash this week rather more than anyone has ever enjoyed anything at the jumped-up landfill that the (thankfully suspended) clowns at Cricket Canada are somehow still successfully passing off as an ODI ground. Ahem. On the assumption that VRA’s captain/manager at least will duck out early should Stockholm make Saturday’s final, the hosts will have a substantial advantage in terms of bats in form. Singh’s misadventure in Canada does still leave a hole in the bowling though, as despite already missing two rounds he still has more than twice the wickets of anyone else in the attack, at half the average. Kampong meanwhile will also welcome back their skipper, who himself impressed on debut for the Dutch. The recent run of results may not be on their side, but I’d still make the defending champions favourites at full strength on Saturday.
RL: One of the gilt-edged four-pointers will be at the Hazelaarweg, where VOC are at home to HBS Craeyenhout. Just a point ahead of Hermes, this is perhaps the best opportunity of their last four games for the Bloodhounds, who will have been desperately disappointed to miss out on victory over a below-strength Voorburg last week. VOC’s batters passed 200 for only the fourth time in that game, and while their top and middle order often get a start, they have seldom been able to bat on and make a truly significant contribution. There have also been selection issues, but the team looks a little better-balanced (and a good deal more experienced) with the return of Tim de Kok and of Pierce Fletcher. For HBS, the form of Tayo Walbrugh has been another recurring theme on these virtual pages: with just 180 runs at 20.00 he has been a shadow of the player who averaged 59 or better in each of the five previous seasons, and although Lucas del Bianco, Kent Goedeke and at times Lehan Botha have taken up some of the slack, the Crows will be hoping that their captain’s undoubted class is in evidence in the closing rounds.
BdJ: Walbrugh’s run of poor form has at least spared him the ordeal of a trip to the very worst international cricket ground in the world, but now that the threat of being picked for a tour to King City has passed one might suggest it’s a good time to start making some runs. Though currently three points clear of the wooden spoon spot, after the Crows only have games against frontrunners RCC and then VRA away at the Bos to come before a potential showdown against relegation-slot incumbents Hermes in the final round. The relegation tussle might thus be said to start in earnest this week, and though HBS have arguably underperformed all season while VOC have looked to be slowly strengthening, it would be a surprise to see them on equal points this time next week.
RL’s picks: Rotterdam, HCC, Kampong, HBS.
BdJ’s picks: Voorburg, HCC, Kampong HBS.
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